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The Independent Human Rights and Crime Monitoring Group, IHRCMG, has accused the military of encouraging the influx of cattle into Benue State.

The group said the military was aiding the herders to take over Benue communities by violating the Open Grazing Prohibition Law of the state.

Reeling out preliminary report on execution of Exercise Ayem A’ Kpatuma to end herdsmen incursions in Benue State, yesterday, in Makurdi, team leader of IHRCMG, Mr Solomon Adodo, regretted that the state had witnessed more killings, destruction of farmlands and houses despite the coming of the military.

According to the group, “Exercise Ayem A’ Kpatum is causing more harm than good to Benue communities. Rather than bringing peace and move people back to their ancestral homes, the military has been encouraging more herdsmen to move into Benue communities.

“The military encouraged herdsmen with a handblil, which they used at the launch of the exercise. They circulated the handbill misinforming the general public and giving a perspective that was not true.

“And Federal Government appears to be complicit in the Benue killings in all ramifications, the actions taken so far by the government does not show any political will to end the killings.

“We, therefore, recommend that the military should reassess its operations and sincerely help Benue to enforce the Open Grazing Prohibition Law of 2017.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/03/military-aiding-herdsmen-to-take-over-benue-communities-group/

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, granted bail to Maryam Sanda, the woman who allegedly killed her husband, Bilyamin Bello.

Maryam, who is the daughter of Maimuna Aliyu, a former Aso Savings Bank executive, was arraigned by the police for allegedly killing the son of a former PDP Chairman, Mohammed Bello.

Maryam who is facing trial on allegations of homicide was granted bail by the Chief judge, Yusuf Halilu, based on medical reports which indicated that she is pregnant and ill.

Recall that Maryam’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, pleaded with the court to give his client a soft landing for her to seek proper medical attention at this early stage of her pregnancy.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/03/court-grants-maryam-sanda-bail-in-case-of-alleged-murder-of-husband/

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has reacted to the planned visit to the state by President Muhammad Buhari.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, the Governor said Buhari is the father of the nation and as such can visit any state of the federation anytime he so wished.

Ortom said that Benue was part of Nigeria and the president was free to visit at will.

When asked by reporters if Benue is happy with the visit and their expectations, Terver said, “I don’t have anything to say beyond that.

“The president is the owner of the country and he can visit any part of the country anytime he so wishes.”

The Presidency on Monday, announced that President Buhari would commence visitation to violence-hit states.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/03/check-out-gov-ortoms-reaction-as-president-buhari-planned-to-visit-benue/

At least 15 people have been killed and houses set ablaze in a fresh attack by suspected herdsmen on Olosu, a village in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to police report, the incident took place after a peace meeting was summoned to address fight between Irate Youths from Omutu and some herdsmen.

The herdsmen during the meeting went on rampage slaughtering 15 people and setting houses ablaze.

The location of the attack is said to be close to the camp of the herdsmen.

The Benue State Police Command, in a statement, confirmed the killings, stating that four suspects had been arrested in connection with the gruesome murder.

The statement read “The Benue Police wishes to report that, today at about 0730hrs, information was received from the Security Adviser, Okpokwu LGA that some Irate Youths from Omutu engaged some Herdsmen in a fight, maiming some cows, while two (2) herdsmen were found missing.

“A peace meeting was immediately initiated with the Chairman of the LGA and the Head of the Fulani Community in the area, while a Police Search Party went in search of the 2 missing Herdsmen, one of who was found killed.

“Unfortunately, as the search and peace meeting were ongoing, some herdsmen surreptitiously went on rampage, resulting in matcheting to death of 15 persons mainly women and children, while some houses were set ablaze.

“Four (4) suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the gruesome murder. An extensive patrol of the community is ongoing which will be reinforce with the Special Forces.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/03/fulani-herdsmen-kill-15-many-missing-in-fresh-benue-attack/

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari has not visited states that have witnessed killings in recent months.

Osinbajo ​said he represented the president​ in some of the states, stating that condolence ​visits ​cannot compensate for loss of live​s.

​The VP who also ​mentioned ​the​ abduction of 110 Dapchi girls in Yobe​, said tha​t​ what is paramount is to ensure security in all states of the nation.
​
In a chat with newsmen in Lagos on Sunday, Osinbajo said: “Let me say it first that no amount of condolence can compensate for the loss of life, whether in Calabar, Mambilla or Benue or where people were killed in Adamawa or Zamfara, any of these states.

​”​Benue killing is one set of killing far too much; there is no amount of condolence that can compensate for that. And I want to say that it’s a massive tragedy.

​”​I’ve been to Zamfara, I’ve been to Adamawa when this killing took place.​ ​I even visited Benue in September where there have been killing before; then I’ve visited them when the flooding took place and we looked at all the issues and tried to address many of these.

​”​There have been several of these issues in different places, recently Dapchi. We have expressed condolences, but no amount of condolence would do.​”

​Osinbajo also spoke on what the government in doing to address security challenges nationwide​

​”​We have to address the security question in a much more robust way; that the police are able to do these effectively.

​”​We have deployed the military to Kaduna, two battalions to Kaduna. In Benue and Taraba axis, we have the 93 battalion, we have 72 Special Forces.

​”​We have full concentration in Taraba and all of that, and by the way, the military is fighting in most of the North East. So there is a situation where the military is overstretched.

​”​So I think the most important thing is first of all to ensure they actually address the security of the people.​”​

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/03/vp-osinbajo-reveals-why-president-buhari-has-not-visited-benue-zamfara-yobe/

Barring any last minute change, this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), will begin on Friday.

It is scheduled to hold from March 9 to March 17.

The board’s Head of Media and Information Department, Dr Fabian Benjamin, on Sunday was insistent that the exams will go on as planned.

While announcing that candidates for the 2018 UTME can start printing their examination notification slip from Tuesday, March 6, he said: “Candidates can now go ahead and print their examination notification slips from Tuesday.

“These candidates must ensure that these slips are printed before Friday, March 9 in order to farmiliarise themselves with the examination schedules as no form of excuse for missing the examination will be entertained.

“We want to warn that the board will not reschedule any examination for anybody and so any candidate that fails to adhere strictly to the examination schedule as stated in their slips should have himself or herself to blame.”

There has been pressure on the board to move the dates of the examinations.

Some of the protesting candidates said many of them who had hoped to be admitted by various institutions during the 2017/2018 academic calendar year, just found out this week that they were not admitted and that less than one month cannot be enough to prepare for another examination.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/03/jamb-2018-utme-to-begin-on-friday-march-9/

No fewer than 200 persons have been rendered homeless and several persons still missing after suspected herdsmen attacked Tse Sumaka and Tse Atorough Vishigh in Mbadwem Council Ward of Guma, Benue State.

An eyewitness told our reporter that the herdsmen, armed to their teeth, invaded the villages and began to shoot sporadically and razed about 20 houses.

The incident came barely two weeks after the formal launching of the Operation Ayem Akaptuma (Cat Race) in the state.

“As we speak, I am in a bush with my family. They (attackers) burnt our house and attacked my brother with machete, I don’t even know if he is dead or alive, please inform the police,” the escapee said amid shriek voice. A resident Said.

However, the police could not be reached at the moment for comment as efforts to reach the Benue command’s PRO, Moses Yamu could not yield any result at the time of this report.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/03/many-reportedly-missing-as-suspected-herdsmen-burn-down-villages-in-benue/

Gov Samuel Ortom has decried the ‘deplorable conditions’ of the camps hosting people displaced by the incessant attacks on Benue rural communities, and called for urgent measures to address the situation.
“The camps are terrible; the living conditions there are nauseating. Something urgent must be done to assist the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),” Ortom

Ortom spoke in Makurdi when he received members of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation, led by is chairman, Babangda Aliyu, at the Banquet hall of the Benue People’s House, Makurdi.

He said that 60 per cent of the IDPs were children who had missed examinations and did not know when to return to school.

” The facilities at the camps are inadequate and too deplorable to provide minimum comfort for these children.

“The attacks keep going on and more people are fleeing their homes and taking refuge in the camps, making them overcrowded.

“In spite of the presence of “Exercise Cat Race”, herders are still killing and displacing local farmers from their ancestral homes.

“The Benue people are law abiding and have refrained from resorting to violence even at the height of provocation, but we cannot continue like this,” he said.

He called on members of the foundation to appeal to the federal government to pursue justice for his people.

“All we ask of the federal government is justice, the rule of law and an end to impunity. We have suffered too much in the hands of the herders who carry out these attacks against our people with impunity.

” Between 2012 and 2018, we have had 47 attacks on Benue communities. Lives and property worth millions have been lost, but in spite of these attacks, we have remained law abiding.”

He said it was difficult to revive grazing routes, and called on herdsmen in the state to obey the anti-open grazing law.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/03/living-condition-in-benue-idps-camps-are-nauseating-gov-ortom/

Nigerian Army said its efforts aimed at fishing out criminals and protect farmlands in Benue State and it environs on the ongoing Exercise Ayem Akpatuma was beginning to yield tremendous result there.

This followed the arrest of ten herdsmen by troops of Sector 1 Sub-Sector A, deployed at Yelwata on Monday. The Army, in a statement by its spokesman, Brigadier General Jude Chukwu, said the troops while on routine patrol arrested ten herdsmen destroying farmland at Tse-Tigir and Tse-Ndugh villages on Monday 26 February 2018. ”

While in the act of destroying the farmland the herdsmen sighted the aggressive troops and fled into the bush. The determine troops pursued and arrest them. “Items recovered were : 5 motorcycle, 2 machetes, some assorted charms and the sum of One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (N 120,000:00) only. Suspect and items were handed over to the Nigerian Police for further necessary action.

“The Nigerian Army is determine to fish out criminals and recover weapons use in killing innocent citizens. Therefore the public is please requested to cooperate and support the Army on the ongoing exercise, “the statement said.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/troops-arrest-10-fulani-herdsmen-destroying-farms-in-benue-state/

The Nigeria Police Force has denied reports that it has withdrawn Police Special Forces from the theatre of operation in Benue State.

It also faulted the claims on Sunday in a statement signed by the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni.

Countering the withdrawal claims, Mr Owoseni said: “the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has continued to reinforce the Command with personnel and material resources as it becomes operationally expedient.

“With the reinforcement, which is aimed at encouraging the speedy return of displaced persons to their respective communities, the Command has been able to increase its visibility across the state.

“While the situation is relatively calm, the Police Command would continue to partner with well-meaning members of the society and sister security agencies to ensure the security of life and property in Benue.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/police-denies-withdrawal-of-special-forces-from-benue-over-herdsmen-attack/

Big Brother Naija 2018 housemate, Tobi on Sunday said Cee-c is dangerous to him in the house.

Tobi said this to Miracle and Nina while reacting to a threat by Cee-c to report him to big brother if he comes close to her.

In reaction, Tobi said Cee-c is like a girl that comes into your life to spoil all you have built.

He said ”Why will Cee-c be be talking about me like that.

”What if people are not watching to hear she is lieing, they will think I am really like that.

”Abeg that girl is too dangerous for me, all this might be her game plan.

”Henceforth I am not going close to her.”

Recall that Tobi had said it was difficult being with Cee-c despite his likeness for her.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/bbnaija-cee-c-is-too-dangerous-for-me-tobi-says/

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has warned the Federal Government against declaring a state of emergency in Benue State and also called for the arrest and prosecution of culprits in the killings in Benue and other places.

The leaders made this known after a meeting of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders in Abuja.

The leaders reviewed events after its visit to Benue over the January 1 killings, expressing regret that “President Muhammadu Buhari has not lived up to the expectations of his office by keeping mute on the killings, visiting neighbouring Nasarawa and Adamawa states, while ignoring Benue.”

In a communiqué by Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the forum said it was disturbed by the allegation that soldiers drafted to Benue State under Operation Cat Dance, were allegedly “circulating leaflets calling Tiv cattle rustlers, which clearly suggests that the operation is ostensibly meant to turn victims into villains and decimate their capacity for self-defence.”

In its resolution, the leaders called on President Buhari to “stop the killings in Benue and other parts of the country by disarming herdsmen and fishing out culprits for prosecution.” It also warned “against any plot to declare a state of emergency in Benue State, as being canvassed by some sponsored group, as such a move in the Western Region had dire consequences in the past.”

The forum also called for a probe into the statement credited to the Director General of Department of State Services, DSS, at the Senate security meeting that “sophisticated weapons being used by herdsmen are from the armouries of security agencies.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/middle-belt-southern-leaders-warn-fg-against-state-of-emergency-in-benue-state/

Tianjin Teda midfielder John Obi Mikel believes Chelsea can still knock Barcelona out of the Champions League at the Camp Nou on March 14, despite blowing a lead to draw 1-1 in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

The former Blues veteran has invoked the memory of their astonishing comeback win over the Catalan giants in Spain in 2012, when goals from Ramires and Fernando Torres saw them reach the Champions League final on away goals.

"I have been played for Chelsea for 11 years and that comeback I will remember for the rest of my life,"

"Obviously I will continue to support Chelsea as always and hopefully they will go through into the next round.

"I believe they will knock out Barcelona on their own ground, just like we did in 2012."

The Blues, under interim manager Roberto Di Matteo, then went a step further by defeating Bayern Munich at the Alianz Arena (also their own ground) to lift their first and only Uefa Champions League trophy.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/chelsea-will-knock-out-barcelona-in-champions-league-second-leg-john-obi-mikel-says/

Barely 48 hours after the deployment of military to Benue State to check bloody herdsmen incursions, ethnic leaders of the state have expressed displeasure and apprehension over their activities, alleging that the exercise was aimed at providing cover for armed herdsmen to take over Benue land.

But in a swift reaction, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 707 Special Forces Brigade Makurdi, Major Olabisi Ayeni, maintained that the army would, in the course of the exercise, bring the killings to an end and ensure peaceful coexistence in all Benue communities.

In a statement issued by Chairman of the joint ethnic leaders and President General of Mdzough U Tiv, Chief Edward Ujege, on behalf of the Idoma National Forum and the Omi Ny’Igede, they accused the military of allowing open grazing in the state.

The statement read in part:

“We wish to express our profound displeasure at the emerging trends of the military operation tagged, Ayem A’ Kpatema. “The general public may recall our initial apprehension about the real mission of troops deplayed to Benue State and true to our predictions, the flag off of the exercise has confirmed our fears.

“A pamphlet circulated by Nigerian Army has defined the real intention of the military in Benue State. The pamphlet confirmed that the military had come to provide cover for armed herdsmen to take over our land. ‘’The publication of the pamphlet in Tiv language gives the impression that the Tiv are the target of the exercise, whereas the herdsmen attacks cut across the entire Benue State, which is multi ethnic. This profiling of the Tiv people is also unacceptable.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/military-giving-cover-to-herdsmen-to-take-over-our-land-benue-leaders/

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, has promised to restore normalcy to the troubled communities of Benue State with the commencement of Exercise Ayem A’ Kpatuma, a special military spike programme launched to stem herdsmen incursions and killings in Benue and neighbouring states.

Buratai spoke, yesterday, in Makurdi when he led top brass of Nigerian Army on a courtesy call on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and to flag off the military exercise He said:

“Ayem A’kpatuma is an exercise that would help familiarise our troops to the challenge of internal security and this is jointly being conducted with other services of the Armed Forces as well as other security agencies especially the Police, Department of State Service, DSS, and other paramilitary organisations.

“I am not going to trace the history of the challenges that this part of the country has faced but by and large, it is our hope and expectation that at the end of the exercise, we expect that things would normalise.

“This is a way of contributing our own quota to ensuring that we support the civil authorities to assuage whatever challenges they have over the situation that is facing our society. “First and foremost let me make it clear, that this is not an operation, it is an exercise that is essentially a military exercise. And we want to assure you that we are not targeting any individual.

“It is an exercise that will help our officers and soldiers understand the basics that are required for internal security operations which include ambushes, military patrol, including civil/military activities that we would undertake during this exercise to also include medical outreach as well as other programmes that would help us interact with the society in general and understand each other better.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/chief-of-army-staff-promised-to-restore-normalcy-to-benue-state/

Barely 51 days after Fulani herdsmen invaded Guma and Logo council areas of Benue State, killing 73 people mostly women and children in the process, the police have arrested principal suspects in the unpredictable mayhem.

The four principal suspects, according to report, were arrested in Tunga town of Nasarawa State between 16 and 19 February 2018 by Intelligence Response Team of the Force.

The suspects, according to the police, were nabbed in connection with the killing of Sgt Solomon Dung and other police officers besides many innocent citizens in Benue State.

The feat was sequel to the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on the arrest of all persons involved in the killings in Benue State and those in possession of AK47 rifles and other prohibited arms.

The team is being led by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations,Habila Joshak.

The suspects’ names were given as Alhaji Laggi, 40years, mastermind and gang leader of the herdsmen group; Mallam Mumini Abdullahi, 34 years; Muhammed Adamu, 30 years and Ibrahim Sule, 32 years old.

“The suspects have confessed to the killings and mentioned gang members in possession of the police rifles they took from the slain police officers and others in possession of arms. ” Serious follow up is in progress in Benue,Taraba and Nasarawa states.

“DIG Operations Who is heading the Operation have addressed the press on behalf of the IGP today In Makurdi Benue State,” the source said.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/police-arrest-suspected-leader-of-herdsmen-responsible-for-benue-killings/

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has raised the alarm that there are threats to his life over the recently enacted Open Grazing Prohibition Law by his administration.

Ortom, who spoke, yesterday, in Makurdi, said he had already reported the matter to security agencies, with expectations that those behind the threats would be arrested. Governor Ortom said:

“There are threats to my life because of the grazing law we enacted in the state to ensure peaceful coexistence between our local farmers and herdsmen. “It is on record. I have also reported the matter to the security agencies that some persons were planning to attack me.

“But I keep saying that life belongs to God. It is only God that gives and takes away life, so my life is not in the hands of any person who is not happy with the Open Grazing Prohibition Law, 2017.

“If they are not happy, that is not my problem. They cannot take away my life because life belongs to God and not man no matter his position.

“Whether these threats are real or not, they are threats and I have reported it to the Police, and the security agencies are doing the needful. I believe that those behind the threats will be apprehended and brought to book.

“I must keep saying that the grazing law we enacted in Benue State, came from the people to stem the killings in our rural communities and it was not targeted at any group, persons or individuals, neither was it intended to chase anyone out of the state.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/there-are-threats-to-my-life-over-benue-anti-open-grazing-law-gov-ortom-says/

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has denied begging his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam to join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Ortom said at no point did he beg Suswam or any leader to return to the former ruling party.

Reports had it that Ortom and Suswam had a meeting in Gboko with the Tour Tiv, James Ayatse and the former begging to be accepted back into his former party.

Reacting to the report, Ortom said he had no reason to beg anybody to join any political party.

He told newsmen that, “My meeting in Gboko yesterday was at the instance of the Tor Tiv, it was not a political meeting, the Tor Tiv told us to work together for the advancement of Tiv nation.

“Why should I beg anyone for a platform to contest election, I am a member of the ruling party, a sitting Governor, so why will I be begging people for platforms.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/governor-ortom-denied-begging-suswam-to-accept-him-back-in-pdp/

Former presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, has spoken on the strike action embarked upon by students of Benue state University.

Some students of the Benue State University on Friday frustrated academic activities in the school over management’s refusal to allow them write examinations over unpaid school fees.

They blamed ‘snake’ for their inability to pay their fees which led to the closure of the institution by management till further notice .

Reacting to the development,Abati via his twitter page said the students are not to be blamed but the government. 

He wrote....

“Can you blame the students for claiming snakes swallowed their school fees?

“This cruelty to animals began the moment rats started “eating” furniture in Aso Rock.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/bsu-students-not-to-blame-over-claims-that-snake-swallowed-their-school-fees-reuben-abati/