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Tag: Benue state

  • Mark raises alarm over killings, kidnappings in Benue state.

    Mark raises alarm over killings, kidnappings in Benue state.

    Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, Thursday raised the alarm over the spate of murders, kidnappings and gang-related activities in Benue State.

    The unfortunate development, Mark said, has claimed scores of lives and property worth millions in recent times.

    The former Senate President who was reacting to the death of a Catholic Priest, Reverend Father John Adeyi in the hands of kidnappers who abducted him over 60 days ago, noted that the upsurge in criminal activities have reached an intolerable level.

    A statement by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, said that Mark wondered what a harmless Catholic Priest would do to deserve that kind of dehumanization and eventual murder by kidnappers.

    It said that Mark urged the Catholic Community, especially the bereaved family, to take solace in the fact that Father Adeyi was a true servant of God who gave his all to win souls for Christ.

    It said that a worried Senator Mark stated that even as he mourns the death of Adeyi in the hands of kidnappers, “news filtered into town that another of his constituent and a Catholic Priest with Kano Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father Julius Inalegwu was abducted in the early hours of yesterday in Kano State.”

    It said that Mark implored the Inspector General of Police and other Security operatives to do all that is needed to bring the perpetrators to justice forthwith.

    It quoted Mark who represents Benue South Senatorial District to have said: “My constituents feel unsafe in their homes, at their businesses, while going about social activities or places of worship”.

    It said that the former Senate President noted that the primary goal of any government is to ensure security and welfare of citizens, insisting that it is incumbent on leaders at all levels to secure the citizens.

    It said that Senator Mark tasked his people to be security conscious at all times and added that they needed to cooperate with the police to fish out criminals in order to guarantee a safe environment for people to go about their legitimate businesses unmolested.

  • FG commends Benue, Ebonyi for truce over boundary challenges

    Dr Mohammed Ahmed, the Director-General, National Boundary Commission (NBC), has commended the governments of Benue and Ebonyi states for achieving a truce over the boundary challenges between them.

    The commendation is contained in a statement issued by Mr Kabir Bala, the Resident Information Officer of the commission, made available in Abuja on Thursday.

    The statement quoted Ahmed as saying that the reported cases of attacks and counter attacks resulting in loss of lives in the Agila and Ngbo communities was unfortunate.

    The NBC boss, who chaired a joint meeting of officials of Benue and Ebonyi States Boundary Committee with the Representative of the Surveyor-General of the Federation in attendance, said the killings must stop in these communities.

    He said peace was very necessary for societies that were in dire need of development, stressing that “there is no alternative to peace; conflict often affects the people adversely and impedes development economically and socially.”

    The director-general stressed the need for peace to prevail to enable communities to benefit from government`s programmes meant for economic and social development.

    He added that a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting deliberated on so many issues that would lead to the cessation of hostilities between the communities.

    He said that it was resolved that Benue and Ebonyi states would be assisted by the affected local government areas and traditional institutions to enlighten the affected communities on the need for peace.

    He noted that the meeting also resolved that the Inter-communities Joint Peace Committee should meet monthly on rotational basis and adequately brief chairmen of their respective states boundary committees.

    It was also resolved that NBC should coordinate a joint enlightenment campaign from June 17 to June 27, as the Federal Government continued the demarcation exercise as soon as peace was guaranteed in the affected communities.

     

  • Two killed as Tiv-Jukun clash over fish pond in Benue

    Two killed as Tiv-Jukun clash over fish pond in Benue

    Two persons have been reportedly killed while several houses set ablaze following crisis between Tiv and Jukuns ethnic tribe in Abinsi town , Benue state Thursday .

    Abinsi is an ancient town, located on Makurdi- Gboko federal high. It has witnessed over 20 years of several crisis between the two major tribes.

    The Benue State Commissioner of Police Paul Yakadi told The Nation on phone that fighting broke out as a result of fish pond; adding that “While Tiv people were already fishing in the pond, Jukun people also attempt to fish but there was resistance which resulted into bloody fight.

    He said two persons were wounded and several houses set ablaze.

    As at press time there is confusion in the community as women and children were seen running helter- skelter.

    A detachment of Mobil Police Men have been drafted to the town to maintain law and order.

  • Aisha Buhari donates relief materials to IDPs in Benue

    Aisha Buhari donates relief materials to IDPs in Benue

    The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Wednesday donated assorted relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs. Buhari, who was in Benue to empathise with the state government on the recent farmers/herdsmen crisis, was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Oludolapo Osinbajo.

    Donating the materials at Nogowa Secondary School, Wadata Camp, Makurdi, Mrs Buhari commiserated with the bereaved families, saying that the government was committed to their plight.

    She said that the Federal Government understood what the victims were passing through and assured them that government would not abandon them at this point of their sufferings.

    “I have heard and seen your cries. Cry no more, for we are with you.

    “Today in Benue I have seen old and young men, women and children in the camp and I can see that they have gone through a lot of pains.

    “I have seen that by their looks, it is evident that they are tired of living in the camps but they have no homes because their homes have been destroyed.

    “We are really worried about your situation but do not lose hope we are with you, and we will never abandon you at this point of your need,” Mrs Buhari said.

    Earlier in his remarks, Gov. Samuel Ortom appealed to the Federal Government to tighten security at boarders to end the continued influx of foreign herdsmen into the state.

    Ortom explained that foreign herdsmen were behind the incessant attacks on his people since 2011.

    The governor said, “Unless they are chased out, it would be hard to maintain peace in the country.

    “These herdsmen are very destructive and well-armed. They kill women and children on sight.

    “They are completely different from the Fulani’s that we have lived and cohabited with over the years.

    “We understand that the herdsmen came from Mali, Ghana, Congo, Niger among others and are killing us every day with impunity. This must stop.

    “As we speak, over eight Local Governments have been affected across the state. The situation is really overwhelming,” said the governor.

    The governor said that there was no land for grazing in the state, explaining that all lands belong to farmers in the state.

    He said that 85 per cent of the state population were farmers and occupied the little available land, adding that it would be difficult to create a grazing reserve in the state.

    He suggested that the herdsmen should rather embrace ranches as it was being practiced in developed countries.

    NAN reports that Mrs. Buhari donated rice, multivitamins supplements, cooking oil, garri, tomatoes to the Benue IDPs.

     

  • Ghost workers receive N170.29m monthly in Benue — Report

    Ghost workers receive N170.29m monthly in Benue — Report

    The Benue State Government spends N170, 290, 870 as salaries on ghost workers every month.

    Biometric Audit Consultant, Prince Mkpang, stated this while submitting the Report of Biometric Audit of Benue Civil Service to Governor Samuel Ortom in Makurdi on Tuesday.

    Mkpang explained that after the Automatic Finger Print Identification, only 17,962 staff members were active employees in the state’s civil service.

    This is apart from the 1,011 judiciary staff members that are now independent.

    Mkpang said: “Staff headcount as at September 2015 is 20, 220 with a gross salary of N2.5 billion. Today, with the biometric audit staff headcount, the state has 17,962 with a wage bill of N2.3 billion.

    “This shows a headcount difference of 2,258 and a gross difference of N259 million per month. However, the judiciary staff, numbering 1,011 with a gross salary of N88.8 million did not avail themselves of the exercise.

    “This means that 1, 261 staff with a gross salary of N170, 290, 870 can be classified as ghost workers on the payroll until proven otherwise.”

    Mkpang said 359 employees due for retirement by virtue of either date of birth or maximum length of service between January and February 2016 were still in the service.

    The consultant said 171 staff due for retirement before September 2015 were still on the payroll, while 111 staff falsified their records on grounds of age disparity.

    Mkpang further said 90 staff with serious medical conditions that cannot work, were captured, adding that 1,500 staff members were yet to be confirmed after several years in the service.

    He disclosed that they had created an electronic file (e-file), which contained career profile and qualifications for each civil servant.

    Gov. Ortom said government would look into the report and make necessary corrections for immediate implementation.

    The Benue State House of Assembly  passed the second supplementary appropriation bill 2015 of over N24.5 billion. Highlight of the bill as passed shows that the recurrent expenditure is N12.5 billion while capital expenditure stood at N12 billion.

    Leading the debate in the Committee of Supply, Chairman of the Appropriation committee, Mr Adam Okloho (APC-Adoka/Ugboju), said that his committee unraveled that most of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state indulge in extra budgetary expenditure, stressing that the state government had paid the backlog of salary arrears of N12.5 billion with the bailout fund without complaints.

    Contributing, Mr Ianna Jato (PDP-Katsina-Ala East) called on Benue workers to furnish the house with complaints concerning the disbursement of the bailout fund if any to enable the house tackle them on their behalf.

  • Benue Assembly Passes N24. 5 billion Supplementary budget

    Benue Assembly Passes N24. 5 billion Supplementary budget

    The Benue State House of Assembly Wednesday passed the second supplementary appropriation bill 2015 of over N24.5 billion.

    Highlight of the bill as passed shows that the recurrent expenditure is N12.5 billion while capital expenditure stood at N12 billion.

    Leading the debate in the Committee of Supply, Chairman of the Appropriation committee, Mr Adam Okloho (APC-Adoka/Ugboju), said that his committee unraveled that most of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state indulge in extra budgetary expenditure, stressing that the state government had paid the backlog of salary arrears of N12.5 billion with the bailout fund without complaints.

    Contributing, Mr. Ianna Jato (PDP-Katsina-Ala East) called on Benue workers to furnish the house with complaints concerning the disbursement of the bailout fund if any to enable the house tackle them on their behalf.

    Jato further warned MDAs to refrain from indulging in extra budgetary expenditure, stressing that instead they should apply for a supplementary budget when the need arose.

    On his part, Mr Benjamin Nungwa (APC-Kwande West) lamented that the ugly trend of MDAs indulging in extra budgetary expenditure was on the increase because there was no punitive measure meted to offenders’ right from time immemorial.

    Mr. Richard Ujege (APC-Konshisha) said that casual workers syndrome was fast becoming a conduit pipe where heads of MDAs siphon funds in the name of paying them and sometimes they might not have even one casual worker in their place.

  • Benue: Fulani accused Agatu farmers of killing 10,000 cattle

    Benue: Fulani accused Agatu farmers of killing 10,000 cattle

    The Fulani community in Benue State has accused Agatu natives of killing 10,000 cattle belonging to its members.

    Ado Boderi, who spoke on behalf of the Fulani community on Thursday, during a meeting between Agatu community, Fulani community and Police Inspector General Solomon Arase, said criminal elements from both sides escalated the crisis despite the quick intervention of the governor.

    He said that Fulani herdsmen were a peace-loving people, whose main concern was the problem of cattle rustling.

    Akpa Iduh, who spoke on behalf of the Agatu people, decried the continued unprovoked attacks on his people by “Fulani mercenaries”.

    Mr. Iduh, who said that the crisis started over five decades ago, lamented that it had recently turned into a war because of the types of weapons the herdsmen were using against them.

    He alleged that the “Fulani mercenaries” were killing both children and pregnant women on sight, adding that they were powerless after embracing the Benue Amnesty Programme and surrendered illegal arms to government.

    “The herdsmen are bent on turning our land into their grazing area, thereby rendering us homeless and without food.

    “Is it because we are minority and poor that they are using their numerical advantage and wealth against us?

    “We are going to remain in Agatu until the day they have succeeded in killing all of us.”

    The Inspector- General of Police, Solomon Arase, said in Makurdi that the force had deployed enough policemen to end the clashes between Agatu farmers and herdsmen in Benue.

    Mr. Arase, who was on a fact-finding mission to the state, made the assertion at a meeting between Agatu farmers and herdsmen.

    He disclosed that the force had deployed additional four units of police teams to the area to arrest the situation.

    “I am in Benue on the directives of Mr President on a fact- finding mission and to also see if there is a way to resolve the crisis.

    “We have enough security officers to end the ongoing crisis between farmers and herdsmen in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue.

    “We have also deployed additional four units of police teams in the area to arrest the situation.

    “There is no way we can all live together without having disagreements with one another at some point; it is the way we manage the disagreements that matters.

    “Both the farmers and herdsmen must learn to cohabit with one another as a nation for the peace and progress of our people,” he said.

    Reports that out of the 10 council wards in Agatu Local Government Area, only one ward was not affected in the bloody clashes.

     

     

     

     

  • Benue: 206 illegal structures for demolition

    Benue: 206 illegal structures for demolition

    The Benue State government Monday said it had marked about 206 illegal structures scattered across the state capital, Makurdi for demolition in the next demolition exercise bid to take place this week.

    General Manager of Benue State Urban Development Board, Mr. Richard Agwa disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists in his office in Makurdi.

    Agwa explained that owners of such structures have long been served with notices of demolition, adding that the exercise is a deliberate policy of the Ortom administration to open up development blocked channels as the rains is fast approaching.

    He disclosed that areas where the structures have been marked for demolition include Achusa, Kanshio as well as Logo 1 and 2, adding that the major challenge confronting the board was lack of earth moving equipment, but commended the governor for making a provision for the board in the 2016 budget to address some of the problems.

  • My victory is a renewed mandate to serve humanity – Mark

    My victory is a renewed mandate to serve humanity – Mark

    Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, on Monday said his victory at the Benue South Senatorial rerun election was a renewed mandate to continue to serve God and humanity without blemish.

    A statement issued by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, said Mark spoke when he received his certificate of return at Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja, Monday.

    Mark said, “For the confidence, trust and love for me. I will continue to serve honestly with all my heart. My actions will be guided always with the fear of God.”

    He thanked the people of Benue South and Nigerians for the support and prayers that ensured his success at the polls.

    “My election is unique. I hold this certificate in trust and for service to my people and Nigerians alike. I will serve honestly and with the fear of God,” he stated.

  • Breaking News: Supreme Court upholds Ortom’s election

    Breaking News: Supreme Court upholds Ortom’s election

    The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the election of Governor Samuel Ortom as governor of Benue state.

    In his ruling which lasted about 10 minutes, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta dismissed the appeal brought by Terhemen Tazoor, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the April 11, 2015 governorship election.

    Details later…