The Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has told the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore that he is ready to meet them at the International Criminal Court of Justice at The Hague.

Ortom, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Nath Ikyur said this while reacting to media threats credited to the group whose members have continued to wreak havoc on Benue communities by killing thousands and rendering many others homeless.

According to a statement credited to the Secretary-General of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Saleh Alhasssn, the group has already filed a suit against Governor Ortom at the ICC in The Hague for allegedly seizing over 25,000 cows belonging to his members and detaining over 4,000 herders.

Governor Ortom reiterated his readiness to meet them at court saying, “tell Miyetti Allah and all its leadership that I am ready to meet them in court, anywhere. He further explained that as the Governor of Benue State, he was implementing a law duly passed by the legislature and signed into law.

He insisted that the law was enacted in good faith and it remains “a win-win for the herders and farmers. Unfortunately, what we see is that the terrorists come with the sole intention to take over our ancestral lands and not to graze.”

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The governor also maintained that the passage of the law was part of measures to end the incessant invasion by the armed herdsmen and halt farmers’-herders’ clashes in the state.

While stressing that the “implementation of the law banning open grazing of cattle in the state is irrevocable,” the governor advised Miyetti Allah and their collaborators to be ready for a long legal battle.

In his words: “Let those who are threatening to take me to court understand that every law is meant to be obeyed. For the avoidance of doubts, the Benue people agreed for the law to be implemented. We are, therefore, enforcing it.

“Anybody willing to do business in the state must abide by the law. I have done what is right and legitimate to protect my people from further killings. That is what constitutional democracy demands,” the Governor stated.

He insisted that “instead of Miyetti Allah directing their members who wish to live and do business in Benue State to abide by the law, they have continued to sponsor acts of terror against Benue people, killing and destroying properties worth billions of naira. There are over two million Benue people living as refugees in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.”

The governor also dismissed claims that officials of the Benue State Livestock Guards arrested cattle from neighbouring states.

He said: “It is laughable to say that Benue State officials of the Livestock Guards go into Taraba or Nasarawa States to take away cattle. We know the boundaries between Benue and other states. As such, our officials do not go outside of the state boundaries to make any seizure of herds of cattle that violate our laws.”

The Yobe State Government yesterday announced the recovery of 33 stolen cows which have been handed over to the owner, Francis Kwahur, who is indigenous to Mubi in Adamawa State.

The cows, according to Mr Francis, were stolen from his herder who was taking care of them in the bush. Upon the report, he reported the matter to the authorities and within a few days, he heard there were some suspected stolen cattle brought to the Damaturu market.

“I rushed and came to Damaturu to see the cows. I am grateful because out of the 48 cows that were stolen, 33 were recovered. I am so grateful to the government of Yobe State and the security agencies for their efforts in getting back my cows,” Mr Francis said.

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At a brief ceremony of handing over the cattle, the Director of Cabinet and Security Governor’s Office, Damaturu, Alhaji Yakubu Damagum said the cattle were recovered on August 3 2022, by a combined team of security, including the vigilante and the police.

Alhaji Damagum, who heads the Standing Security Stakeholders’ Committee on Recovery and Identification of true Ownership of Rustled/Stolen Animals in the state, has so far handed over 283 recovered cattle in three batches.

The statement reads: “Today August 13 2022, the Government of Yobe State announces the recovery of 33 herds of cattle and the handing over to their rightful owner, after a standing security committee, appointed by the government deliberated and followed all due processes had identified the rightful owner as Francis Kwahur.

“The 33  herds of cattle  stolen in Borno State from their owner, were recovered in Yobe State on August 3 2022 by the team of our vigilantes assisted by the security agencies.”

The Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali and the Tiv Nation are on collision course over what the later claimed is a disparaging  remark against Tiv race.

In a press release signed by President Tiv Youths Organisation (TYO), Terrence Kuanum, on Saturday and made available to newsmen in Makurdi, Kuanum said, “We therefore demand an immediate withdrawal of the careless comments from IGP Usman and a public apology to the Tiv nation who have been insulted by that infamous outing in Gombe”.

The statement by Benue Youths Forum read in part: “The Benue Youth Forum, BYF has read with utter disappointment, a statement in the Nation Newspaper of August 10, 2022 credited to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali where he openly disparaged the entire Tiv nation over the misbehaviour of an individual.”

The IGP had in a parley with officers and men of the Nigerian Police in Gombe State made those demeaning remarks that the Tiv twice in two sentences without any mention of the tribes or ethnicity of the other were clearly disrespectful to the Tiv nation.

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He was explaining why the Police High Command recently sacked three policemen, among whom was an Inspector of Police of Tiv origin who was serving in the Kogi State Command for various misdemeanours inimical to the image of the force and at different locations.

“It is curious that IGP Alkali mentioned two policemen that were also dismissed for unprofessional conduct.

“For the number one police officer in the country to make comments like “one Tiv man” and “look at how he was dressed like a Tiv warrior” while referring to the dismissed Police Inspector is tantamount to hatred and ethnic profiling, which shouldn’t be coming from someone who is expected to be neutral at all times.

“Many Police officers and men from different tribes have been found wanting in the discharge of their duties but at no time was their ethnic groups so disparaged. A recent case in point is the allegations against DCP Abba Kyari and his colleagues who are currently standing trial for drug related offences. Their tribes have not been an issue.

“Why the Benue Youth Forum will not support any act of criminality by any officer of the state as exhibited by the inglorious action of the dismissed police inspector which eventually cost him his job. We, on behalf of the entire Tiv nation, take exception to that blatant insult and overt spewing of vile towards the Tiv nation by the Inspector General of Police.

“We therefore condemn in totality, the attempt by the IGP to disparage the Tiv people and portray them in bad light.”

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, has launched the distribution of a one-off cash grant of N20,000 to 4,537 beneficiaries in Jigawa State.

The distribution process commenced in Dutse on Thursday during the flag-off of the cash grant for vulnerable groups, the onboarding of independent monitors and the launch of digitised payment for conditional cash transfer.

Farouq in a statement in Abuja by her media aide, Nneka Anibeze said: “Our target in Jigawa State is to disburse the grant to 4,537 beneficiaries across the 27 Local Government Areas and the poor and vulnerable category across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

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“With this grant, many of the beneficiaries will improve their productivity and their commercial activity, all of which will help in easing them out of poverty.

“The launch of the digitised payment exercise is to create room for reliable, transparent and accessible database for seamless disbursement to beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer”.

Farouq urged the beneficiaries to invest the grant in businesses that will yield profits over time.

She also onboarded 80 independent monitors who will receive a monthly stipend of N30,000.

The Northern Young Professionals for Tinubu have called on young professionals across the 19 northern states to support the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential flag-bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The National Coordinator of the coalition, Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, made the call during the launching and office commissioning of its North Central office in Minna.

Read Also: Lalong inspects Tinubu campaign headquarters, meets APC flag bearer

He said that Nigeria needs the wisdom of leaders like Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, adding that they are leaders who carry the youths along in whatever activities they are doing.

“The aim is to canvas support for Tinubu and Shetimma as well as the governorship candidate in Niger State.

“We need the wisdom of our leaders. Our support does not negate the ‘not too young to run’move but we cannot hide the fact that we need the wisdom of our leaders at the helms of affairs of the nation.”

A support group, Asiwaju-Shettima Connect, has said the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu would give young Nigerians the opportunity to take up the baton as leaders in politics and business in his administration.

In a statement by its National Convener, Adebanjo Moyosore, the group noted that there are huge public policy problems that are yet to be addressed to allow the youths express themselves.

According to the group, most of the challenges the country is facing would not be solved until someone like Tinubu, who has the foresight and love for the youths becomes president.

Read Also: Ohanaeze lashes Igbo youths over threat to Tinubu’s supporters

It lauded the presidential flag bearer for his remarks on Nigerian youths and their exploits in the world of music and sports in a video.

The former Lagos State governor had in a video to commemorate the International Youth Day 2022, tagged “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Age,” had commended Nigerian youths for ruling the world in science and technology, entertainment and sports.

The group further stated: “He has remained a mentor who has over these years mentored the best managers in politics and business; the single most important thing any true leader can do to help prepare the next generation of leadership to take up the baton, and to take their own crack at changing the fortune of their country.”

“We have seen what he has turned Lagos into in twenty years. Lagos today has become the third largest economy in Africa because of Tinubu’s master plan to build a mega-city, something he can do better if given the opportunity to lead the country.”

Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State says the Northern Governors Wives’ Forum is an effective platform for finding common solution to drug addiction in the society, especially among youths.

The governor made the remark when wives of Northern Governors led by the Wife of the Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, visited him at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi in company of the Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.

Bagudu, who is Chairman, All Progressives Governors’ Forum acknowledged that wives of state governors are serving as tools of motivation to their husbands in the task of governance and ought to be encouraged to perform better.

Governor Bagudu identified drug addiction as the impetus for banditry, insurgency and other security challenges, which must be tackled and eliminated in all ramifications.

The governor explained that lack of resources and non-inclusiveness have been the major obstacles hindering the fight against drug abuse and other forms of criminality in the country.

He however appreciated the effort of the Northern Governors Forum for tackling the problem through regional approach for a wholesome solution.

He therefore thanked his wife, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu and other wives of the Northern Governors for converging in Kebbi State for their conference, describing it as a great honour.

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The Governor congratulated Dr. Bagudu for her nomination as president-elect of International Cancer Control.

Responding, Dr. Bagudu explained that wives of the Northern Governors were in Birnin-Kebbi in furtherance of their programme towards eliminating substance abuse among the citizenry.

She made it clear that the Kebbi State government with active support of her husband has evolved and implemented programmes and strategies to reduce drug abuse especially among youths and in IDP Camps.

Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu said wives of the Northern Governors were determined and committed to eradicating drug and sexual abuse as well as other forms of malfeasance by counselling and keeping youths occupied through sports and recreational activities.

She said she had led her guests to visit a drop-in centre at the motor-park as well as the female rehabilitation centre at the NDLEA headquarters in Birnin Kebbi.

In a remark, the Chairperson of the Northern Governors Wives’ Forum and Wife of Kaduna State Governor, Architect Hadiza Isma El-Rufa’i, informed their host that the forum picked on drug abuse in view of its prevalence and menace in the northern region.

The Chairperson, Nigeria Governors Wives’ Forum, and wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi said the objective of the forum is to provide support platforms to state governors irrespective of their political party.

Mrs. Bisi Fayemi announced that in 2020 the forum decided to work on gender-based violence and sought the cooperation of governors to declare a state of emergency on the scourge.

Erelu Fayemi expressed delight that thirty-one states of the federation including Kebbi State have passed and assented to the law against gender violence, and thanked Gov. Bagudu for his support to his wife in the task of cleansing the society and on cancer awareness.

She also made a passionate appeal to the governors to increase financial as well as technical and material support towards the eradication of drug addiction in the states.