The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Benue

  • Ex-lawmaker shot dead in Benue

    A former member of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Douglas Beagh, was killed by gunmen on Monday in Zakibiam, Benue State.

    An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, told The Nation that the gunmen stormed the home of the ex- lawmaker in the evening and shot him at close range.

    Our reporter learnt that there was an attempt on Beagh’s life two months ago, but he escaped. His son was, however, shot dead.

    Police spokesman Matter Oko said the gunmen came on a motorcycle and shot dead the former legislator.

     

     

  • ‘Benue targets N1.2b IGR’

    ‘Benue targets N1.2b IGR’

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom said yesterday that his administration was targeting N1.2billion Internally- Generated Revenue (IGR).

    The governor, who addressed State House correspondents after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the state made a little over N250million as IGR before he assumed office.

    He said his priority was workers’ salaries, including payment of the arrears, which he inherited from the Gabriel Suswan administration.

    Ortom said he would soon begin the payment of outstanding pensions and gratuities.

    He said his government would block loopholes through which public funds were diverted by fraudulent officials.

    Stressing that discipline would be the order of the day, the governor said there would be no escape for those stealing public funds.

    He added: “We are looking at other sources because we are not buoyant, we just prioritise salary payment. We are looking at other sources of improving our revenues, not just the federation account, but within the internally- generated revenue.

    “We feel we can improve on what we are having, so that we can use it to do other projects, which will have a bearing on people’s lives and boost the state’s development.

    “Everything is about the sustainability of what we have.

    “What we met on ground was between N250million and N300million. But my target is to increase it to at least N1.2billion for a start.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Benue spends N10billion on salaries, grants, says Ortom

    Benue spends N10billion on salaries, grants, says Ortom

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said yesterday that the N10 billion recently borrowed by his administration was used to pay workers’ salaries, contrary to allegations by the opposition that he had misappropriated the money.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi that  he had given details of how the  loan would be spent when he sought  the nod of the State House of Assembly to take it.

    According to him, “I said it was going to be used to pay two months salaries. On the average, we expend N3.7 billion on the payment of monthly salaries.

    ‘’The breakdown is as follows: wage bill is about N2.8 billion while the overhead per month across board runs to about N700million.  So if you take that for two months you will be spending about N7.4 billion or close to N7.5 billion on salaries alone thereby leaving a balance of about N2.5 billion out of the N10billion we borrowed.

    “Part of what I applied for the loan was to enable the Executive and the House of Assembly to take off. We needed to buy cars for 13 commissioners, 18 advisers, and assembly members including payment of allowances.’’

    He said that more than N3 billion had already been spent on the take off of the government including the legislature.

    The governor, who appealed for patience, added: “no kobo from that money has been misappropriated.”

    He said that the N2.7 billion which the state received from the LNG dividend was still intact, and part of it would be used to pay July salaries.

    “Benue State got N5billion from the LNG account but what actually came to the state was N2.7 billion because N2.3 billion went to the local government councils.

    “That money is still intact in our account. We are now waiting for July allocation and if nothing adds, we are expecting about N1.7 billion, which cannot pay our workers’ salaries, so we have to take from the LNG account to pay July salaries.”

    He said his administration was committed to transparency, accountability and the rule of law, and appealed to the people to offer advises and constructive criticisms that would ginger development.

    Ortom pledged to commit resources to upgrade facilities at the state school of Nursing and Midwifery to facilitate its accreditation for it to resume normal academic programmes.

    He said the school was crucial to his administration and would invest money for its upgrade.

    The governor, who lamented the poor state of facilities in government offices across the state, said his administration had a robust plan to upgrade all decaying infrastructure.

    Ortom accused political detractors of sponsoring falsehood against the government over the loan.

  • Commissioners, advisers vow to transform Benue

    Commissioners, advisers vow to transform Benue

    Newly appointed commissioners, special advisers, permanent secretaries and local government caretakers in Benue State have resolved to work as a team to deliver democratic dividends.

    This was part of a seven-point resolution at the end of a three-day state executive council retreat in Makurdi.

    They also vowed to entrench core values such as transparency, accountability, justice, fairness, sel?essness, humility, discipline, forgiveness, reconciliation, integrity, peace and unity in their service to the state.

    The appointees, who praised Governor Samuel Ortom for organizing the retreat, also resolved to abide by the rule of law and due process in service delivery.

    They agreed that international best practices as well as the latest media and ICT tools will be deployed in delivering democracy dividends.

    They also promised to align with the blueprint of the administration anchored on the five-point agenda of good governance and revenue security; Agriculture-driven industrialisation; investment in critical infrastructure and gender, women, youth, sports and people with disabilities.

    Twenty five resources persons, including former governor George Akume and Senator Barnabas Gemade, among others spoke at the retreat.

    Ortom delivered a keynote address while deputy governor Benson Abuonu made the closing remark.

     

     

  • Aondoakaa condemns insecurity in Benue

    Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Michael Aondoakaa has decried the rising insecurity in Benue State.

    His comments followed the killing of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Atoza Hidan.

    Aondoakaa called on Governor Samuel Ortom to tackle  insecurity as the primary duty of government was to secure lives and property.

    He advised Ortom to declare a state of emergency on insecurity and tackle the crisis.

    Hidan was killed last Friday by unknown gunmen, who came on a motorcycle. The following day, a couple, Tyavkase and Doom Abellaga were killed in their room in Katsina Ala Local Government.

  • Ortom to seize illegal arms in Benue after amnesty

    Ortom to seize illegal arms in Benue after amnesty

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has vowed to seize all illegal  arms in the state after the expiration of the amnesty period. He urged  those in possession of arms to return them.

    The Governor also condemned the  murder of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Chief Atoza Hindan  and others in Katsina-Ala,  saying government would support security agencies in apprehending the killers.

    He made the condemnation in Gbajimba, his home town, in Guma Local Government Area, while addressing a large crowd that came  to celebrate the Sallah with him.

    Governor Ortom reiterated his resolve to seize all illegal arms in the state using the carrot and stick approach, adding that when the amnesty programme ends in  August,  security agents would begin to track and arrest possessors of such weapons.

    He described the assassination of Chief Hindan and others by hoodlums as unwarranted, despicable,  and unacceptable, pledging  that the culprits would be arrested and punished.

    He commisserated with victims’ families for losing loved ones and prayed that God would comfort them.

    The Governor enjoined the people to eschew crime and conflict with Fulani herdsmen,  promising to collaborate with security agents to apprehend criminals from among farmers and herders who instigate crisis.

    According to him, the establishment of ranches remained the permanent solution to farmers, herders’ conflict, noting that in the interim, the two parties must continue to dialogue and seek legal  means to end the conflict.

    He said he had started confronting the challenges of the state by paying full salaries, assuring that things would improve and his administration would be able to pay arrears and provide critical infrastructure.

    The Governor said the construction of the Daudu-Gbajimba road has been included in the supplementary budget being forwarded to the State House of Assembly, adding that, work would commence as soon as it is passed.

    He lamented the drop in enrolment into schools in the area and appealed to the people to take education serious as it remained the bedrock of a better future.

    In the same vein, the governor faulted a statement  credited to the former Lagos State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav accusing Ortom of paying lip service to matters of security.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and ICT, Mr. Tahav Agerzua described Tsav’s claim as “baseless and mischievous”.

    “The true situation on ground is the opposite of what Alhaji Tsav is said to have stated in the report. Since assumption of office Governor Ortom has made security one of his topmost priorities.

    “He has engaged with traditional rulers, the Joint Civilian Task Force, the Inspector General of Police, the association of cattle owners, as well as other security agencies on the matter.

    “The governor has been in regular touch with the state police commissioner, the director of the state security services and all heads of military and paramilitary formations in the state.

    “At his inauguration he announced an amnesty program for possessors of illegal arms in the state and gave them till the end of August, 2015 to surrender the arms or face arrest and confiscation. The carrot and stick approach has started yielding results as some have started turning in their arms as was displayed in the Benue Peoples House last week.

    “His efforts also averted reprisals in Zaki-Biam where a soldier and policeman were killed and led to the release of several persons who were kidnapped in other parts of the state. Governor Ortom’s constant advocacy on this matter has received wide media coverage.

    “He followed this up with the appointment of a security adviser and senior special assistant on security to handle security challenges in partnership with the formal and informal security network. Governor Ortom took above measures within his one and half month in office.

    “It might be necessary to remind the septuagenarian that the security challenges, especially murders, predate the Ortom administration and yet he did not raise his voice against the immediate past governor.

    “He was silent even when residents of Makurdi where he resides, including the late Gwa Jande of the Benue State University and Pastor Adoor of the Ministry of Land and Survey were assassinated.

    “One had thought that as a former security operative with his credentials and experience he could offer suggestions on how to curb crime in the state rather than making inciting and baseless statements.

    “The former police commissioner has been most unfair to Governor Ortom if indeed he made the comments attributed to him in the said newspaper,” Agerzua added.

  • PDP chieftain, 12 others shot dead in Benue

    PDP chieftain, 12 others shot dead in Benue

    Unknown gunmen yesterday shot dead a Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) chieftain, Chief Atoza Hidan in Katsina Ala, Benue State..

    Also shot dead around Yoyo District in the town were12 other people after an attack the gunmen launched on the settlement. According to an eyewitness Chief Hidan was shot while inspecting a work done at his building near the Federal Low Cost Housing estate in Katsina Ala.

    He was said to have been killed in the presence of his police orderly and his assistant, who were with him at the site of the building project.

    The gunmen were said to have arrived on a motorcycle and immediately opened fire on the Second Republic lawmaker who was sitting under a tree.

    He was said to have been shot in the head by the gunmen who fled immediately, giving him no room to survive.

    The killing of Chief Hidan brought to seven the number of PDP members killed by unknown gunmen in Katsina Ala in recent times.

    The son of the late politician and the immediate past commissioner for commerce and industry, Terfa Hidan, described the death of his father as shocking and unfortunate .

    In a telephone interview with The Nation, the son of the deceased described his father as an easy going man and wondered the motive behind his killing .

    Police spokesman, DSP Austine Ezeala, confirmed the incident, saying that 14 persons had been arrested with armed and ammunition in Makurdi in the last one week .

    He said investigations had commenced to fish out the culprits

  • Herdsmen kill mourners in Benue community

    One person has been killed and several others sustained gunshot wound following attack on mourners by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
    The bloody attack took place at the weakened in Imande Bebeshi, Moon district in Kwande- local government area in Benue state .

    Narrating the incident a community leader Hon Abo  Uta told The Nation that the gun men numbering about 50 stormed the village when mourners gathered to bury their beloved one.

    Hon Abo  Uta said; ” The gun men emerged from the surrounding bush and shot sporadically at the mourners who were at the grave side to witness the burial of a relation ” .

    In the melee that led to many people sustaining gunshot wounds, a middle age man by name Suswam Suswam was killed.

    Hon. Uta who  said the injured are receiving treatment at various hospital appeals or the state and federal government to nip the lingering crisis in the bug so that farmers can return to their farm land and tilled the soil.

    He described the attack which has been going on for about 6 years as similar to that of the dreaded Boko Haram saying the invaders have taken over farm land.

    A police officer attacked to Divisional Police office in Kwande local government area who pleaded anonymity confirmed the incident and said investigation has commenced.

  • Ishaku seeks solution to border crises

    Ishaku seeks solution to border crises

    Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba on Wednesday said he has met with Governors of Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau to find lasting solution to the lingering border crises facing the States.

    Ishaku made this known in Jalingo when he received a delegation of the Tiv people of Taraba who paid him a courtesy visit.

    The governor, who thanked the people for the visit, assured them that everything needed to be done would be done to ensure that peace returned to the state to pave way for development.

    “I know the pains of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in the state, and I am working round the clock to reduce attacks in the state.

    “I must bring peace before talking of reconstruction and rehabilitation of those affected by the prolonged internal and border crisis in the state.

    “I recently met with my friends the governors of Benue and Nasarawa and Plateau all in a bid to ensure that attacks on the borders of the three states are dealt with,” Ishaku said.

    Ishaku added that he had instructed security men to intensify surveillance at the borders and other flash points in the state.

    The governor said he would soon set up peace committee and convene security meeting to fashion out ways of ending the crises and explore the possibility of IDPs to return to their homes.

    He assured the delegation that his administration would carry every section of the state along in order to foster unity and development.

    Earlier, Mr. Dennis Nev, the leader of the delegation, urged the governor to ensure timely return of the IDPs to their ancestral homes.

    Nev, a retired Permanent Secretary, Government House Administration assured the governor of continued support of the Tiv community to enable him to deliver on his campaign promises in the interest of the state.

    While expressing confidence in the leadership qualities of Ishaku, Nev urged him to consider competent Tiv sons and daughters for employment and appointments into government offices.

  • Benue to embark on staff audit

    Benue State government is to carry out an audit of its workforce before the payment of June salary.

    Governor Samuel Ortom, who spoke yesterday when the forum of former local government chairmen visited him at the Benue Peoples House, said the exercise became necessary following the need to flush out ghost workers.

    He said financial leakages would be blocked to ensure prudence.

    The governor said his administration would use the loan it would obtain to pay two months salaries.

    Ortom said his government would also use the loan to tackle challenges, such as accreditation of programmes at the College of Health Sciences of the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, take-off of the House of Assembly and other government business.

    He told members of the forum that his administration would follow due process in its dealings, stressing the need for them to cooperate with it to succeed.