Over 600,000 persons displaced in Benue

 

Following repeated attacks in Benue communities by suspected herdsmen, no fewer than Six Hundred Thousand residents have been displaced across the state.

In an interview with  correspondent, the Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Dr Emmanuel Shior uncovered some facts about the increasing number of Internally Displaced Persons birthed by the rising insecurity in the state.

Being the SEMA boss, do you have the statistics of the IDPs currently in Benue camps?

Of course, I do. In 2019/2020, we carried out a general statistics of the IDPs in all the communities in Benue State. Although we did not limit the excises to just those in camps as we captured both the ones in their host communities.

The total number of IDPs we had in camps and host communities at that time was over 500,000.

However, due to the numerous fresh attacks on our communities, we conducted another statistics recently and recorded 100,000 new displaced persons. There are still others that we have not been able to capture at the moment. So I can tell you that we have over Six Hundred Thousand (600,000) IDPs here in Benue State.

What are the particular incidents that led to the displacement of these IDPs

People are displaced here in Benue State as a result of the Fulani herdsmen’s attack, which after displacing them, the killer herdsmen will occupy the affected community, making it difficult for the IDPs to return to their ancestral homes.

That is why the state government has kept some of these displaced persons for over three years in the camps.

It is a big burden on the side of our government. It is very difficult but we thank God.

We thank God for the kind of Governor that we have, who has the passion to serve humanity and to cater for the welfare of not only the IDPs but also the people of Benue State, a God-fearing Governor.

Which of the camps do we have the largest number of IDPs?

The Governor recently established a new camp known as Uikpam in Guma Local Government. It is three times larger than the rest of the camps we have here in the State.

Did the State Government establish any of the camps in Zone C, Benue South?

We cannot create camps everywhere because creating camps also involves managing it by the Benue State Government through SEMA. We don’t play politics with humanitarian issues. People are displaced in Zone C especially in Agatu.

We have engaged the traditional rulers in those areas. Even the communities that are operating camps, we have done the same because the traditional rulers and the community leaders have accepted that idea.

In Agatu where we have the largest number of displaced persons in the Zone, they don’t want their people to be in the camp.

So whatever humanitarian arrangement we have, we extend it to them in Agatu and the rest of them in Zone C.

How is the welfare of the IDPs in those camps?

We thank God, but taking care of IDPs especially in such a large population is a very heavy burden that shouldn’t be left for the state government alone.

The Federal Government had tried in supporting our state government in taking care of the IDPs but it has not done enough.

We usually receive supports from the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, but they don’t come frequently with supports, so it is very difficult.

The state government cannot stop other projects so that the funding that comes to it be directed to only the wellbeing of the IDPs, no. The government has other responsibilities like the provision of roads and other infrastructures.

Is the state government proactive in ensuring that the IDPs are not attacked in camps?

The government has provided security in all the camps and we also hope that by the grace of God nothing will happen to them.

 reports that the State had in recent time been plunged into a deteriorating security situation due to frequent attacks by suspected herdsmen in several communities.

Recall that suspected militia herdsmen on March 20, launched an attack on the convoy of the State Governor, Samuel Ortom while returning from his farm at Tyo-mu along Makurdi – Gboko road.

There has been other attacks ravaging the state almost on a daily basis, forcing residents out of their ancestral homes to the IDPs camps.

Police arrest kidnap kingpin, three gang members

 

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested the leader of a kidnap gang, Kazeem Mohammed and three other gang members.

They were arrested over the alleged kidnap and killing of one Olokose Oluwasola Ojo in Patigi, Patigi Local Government Area of the state.

According to the spokesman of the command, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, in a statement in Ilorin on Wednesday, the gang leader of Patigi, collected the sum of N160,000 from one Olokose Oluwasola Ojo, now deceased on the guise of helping him buy a cow to be used on the deceased wedding scheduled to hold between March 12th and 13th, 2021.

“Since the victim left Ilorin with the suspect, he could no longer be reached by anybody including his intending wife, one Ilori Oluwakemi.

“On 3/3/2021, the wife received a call from her husband’s line demanding N12m ransom if she hope to see her husband again,” the statement added.

Following a report on the incident, the state police commissioner, Mohammed Lawal Bagega, directed an all encompassing investigation into the matter, ordering the arrest of the kidnappers and rescue of the victim unhurt at all costs.

Investigation according to the statement, “led to the arrest of the gang leader, Kazeem Mohammed Beiwa in Patigi via the use of hi-tec intelligence.

“Investigation further led to the arrest of three other members of the syndicate, namely, Mohammed Chatta, Jimoh Abdullateef and Madi Jeremiah, who confessed to the crime.”

They allegedly also confirmed the killing of the victim and burying him in a shallow grave inside the bush.

“They took policemen to the scene of the killing where the head was severed and used for money ritual by Mohammed Kazeem, the leader of the gang,” the statement further revealed.

“The suspects stated in their confessional statement that the victim was lured into the remote part of Patigi where he was told the cow he paid for was tied.

“On getting to the spot, he was shot and killed.”

The body, gathered, was exhumed by the police and taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy.

The police commissioner who advised members of the public to be on guard at all times and know who to transact business with, said the suspects will be charged to court as soon as court resumes sitting from their strike action.

appoints 4 general managers, 8 assistant GMs for ports authority

 

 

The Nigerian Ports 

Authority (NPA) has announced the appointment of four new General Managers (GM) and eight Assistant General Managers (AGM).

Ibrahim Nasiru, AGM, Corporate & Strategic Communications issued a statement on Wednesday.

All appointments are with immediate effect. The NPA now has a total number of 21 GMs and 60 AGMs.

NPA said the move was in furtherance of the commitment to motivate its workforce and building a formidable succession plan in line with the federal character principle.

The new GMs are: Olaseni Alakija, who becomes General Manager, Corporate & Strategic Communications, Patricia Aboh (Mrs).

Others are Servicom; Mr Sylvester Nwankwo General Manager, MD’s Office and (Mrs.) Anthonia Ohagwa, General Manager, ICT.

The new AGMs are Naphtali Pella, Audit (Finance & Investment); Adesina Salau, Land & Estate, Zainab Dantiye(Mrs), Administration, and Nansel Zhimwan, Corporate & Strategic Communications.

Other Benjamin Oluyori; Enterprise & Risk Management, Ruth Boyo (Mrs), Investments, Mr Mukhtar Isah, Civil, and Felix Adekunle, ICT (Network & Communications).

Police search for man who hit officer with bottle

 

The Lagos State Police Command has commenced investigation into the attack on the Traffic Officer, ASP Daudu Ajayi, attached to Abattoir Division as captured in the video that went viral on Wednesday.

The Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, said he was taken aback by the act of the driver and some individuals in the viral video.

He ordered that the case be thoroughly investigated while the driver and his accomplices involved in the act be caused to face the full wrath of the law.

On Wednesday, at about 12.30pm, there was a case of hit and run serious accident involving a vehicle with Reg No BDG 756 YA, which hit a camry car with Reg No. KJA 281 GQ.

Consequently, a motorcycle rider, Ashiru Saadu, was affected and seriously injured.

The driver of the camry car waited but the driver of the Dyna vehicle with Reg. No. BDG 746 YA escaped from the scene.

The officer chased him and was stopped at Pipeline Area Oko-Oba. The driver alighted from the vehicle, pounced on the Traffic Officer and broke a bottle on his head. The officer sustained varying degree of injuries.

Odumosu warned the general public to desist from launching attacks on police personnel and other security agencies as such will be tactically resisted and culprits charged to court.

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Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts in George Floyd’s death

 

Derek Chauvin, the officer charged with the murder of George Floyd, has been found guilty.

The jury, at the trial in Minneapolis, adjudged he was guilty on all three counts.

They are unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter

Bail was revoked and Chauvin was returned to the custody of the county sheriff.

In transcripts of police body camera footage that shook the world in May 2020, Floyd said: “You’re going to kill me, man”.

Chauvin, who was kneeling on his neck, replied: “Then stop talking, stop yelling, it takes heck of a lot of oxygen to talk.”

The transcripts confirmed that Floyd told officers that he could not breathe more than 20 times.

Ex-officer Thomas Lane had insisted he should not be held accountable for the killing because it was his fourth day on the job.

Lane said he only followed orders from Chauvin, who had 19 years of experience.

The transcript showed that he asked other officers to turn Floyd onto his side.

Chauvin, with his knee pinned on Floyd’s neck, says “no, he‘s staying put where we got him.”

The murder made the #BlackLivesMatter campaign spread further globally. In 2020, it was the second-most popular hashtag after #COVID19, according to Twitter.

BIAFRA, Igbo apprenticeship documentary by Hero Lager live on multiple media platforms

  

The Hero’s Walk’, the much-anticipated exposé on the Igbo apprenticeship system majorly practised by the South East people of Nigeria, has been launched for general viewership on YouTube and TV Stations across the country.

This epic documentary produced by Hero Lager Beer was premiered across major cities in the country in the past couple of weeks. The documentary was also exclusively screened to celebrities, filmmakers, artistes, cultural icons, and other notable dignitaries at the Filmhouse Cinema Lekki, Lagos.

“The Hero’s Walk” is narrated by Nollywood veteran actor, Nkem Owoh and it delves into an age-long culture of hands-on training and mentoring of young Igbo men by relatives or kinsmen to empower them to become successful entrepreneurs through the acquisition of skills by learning directly from established businesses.

As a brand that has always identified with culture, Hero Lager’s mission to spotlight the Igbo apprenticeship process was borne out of the desire to articulate an important story that chronicles the coming-of-age of many Igbos, and how the practice of Imu Ahia deserves better visibility and acknowledgment as a proven method of attaining success and generational wealth.

Speaking on the release of the documentary, Marketing Director, International Breweries Plc, Tolulope Adedeji, said the “The Hero’s Walk” has been released on online and offline platforms to give wider audiences a chance to see and appreciate the enviable business model.

 

“We are excited about the responses received during the premiere across the country. The testimonials are incredible, and this has spurred us to make it available for the general public so they can also view and appreciate this unique culture and practice. The story of legacy exhibited in the documentary is worth sharing on a wider scale so that many can learn and possibly adopt the model.”

It is pertinent to note that “The Hero’s Walk” is the first documentary that created a unique platform for business people to tell the story of a tested business model, especially for successful entrepreneurs who went through the model before establishing their own businesses. The age-long model has made many successful businessmen and women and continues to do so till date. The full version of the documentary can be watched on: Hero Lager YouTube page

Hero Lager is a product of International Breweries Plc, a proud part of AB InBev, the world’s largest brewers with over 400 beer brands.

Biafra ESN will invade North soon – IPOB threatens Miyetti Allah

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Sunday declared that the Eastern Security Network, ESN, will soon storm the Northern part of Nigeria.

IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful stated this in response to claims that Miyetti Allah was planning to deploy 5, 000 security operatives to the Southeast to protect herders.

Powerful described the plan as an insult which would not be allowed to stand in the Southeast.

The IPOB spokesman warned that the group would take drastic actions if such step is taken.

A statement by Powerful reads partly: “The attention of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, has been drawn to the threat by MIYETTI ALLAH to deploy 5000 jihadists to Biafra land to protect their cows and herders following the floating of Ebubeagu security outfit by South East governors.

“We consider this utterance as an insult to the entire Biafra and won’t tolerate it despite our grievances against the treacherous South East governors and the political elite.

“The South East Governors must understand that federal government of Nigeria sponsored Miyetti Allah to make this reckless utterance. The earlier they understand that IPOB is not their problem, the better. They should stop betraying us but appreciate our sacrifices in the defense of our ancestral land.

“The Miyetti Allah and their terrorists group should know that they shouldn’t play God for ever. They are trying to provoke ESN and IPOB to take a drastic action. IPOB and ESN are running out of patience with their insults. They should retrace their steps now! Let them come, we are waiting for them. Soon they will see ESN in the North.”