The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Makurdi

  • Three feared dead as Benue village comes under attack

    The Police said in Makurdi on Friday that Tse-Achia village near Kasar in the outskirts of Zaki Biam, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue, has been burnt.

    This is coming few days after Zaki Biam Yam Market was razed by hoodlums leading to the death of 17 people and 11 injured.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, ASP Moses Yanmu, said the arsonists carried out the attack in the early hours of Friday.

    Yanmu said four houses were burnt while three persons, including a woman, were burned in one of the houses.

    The police spokesman added that preliminary investigations revealed that the attack was `retaliatory.’

    He said the identity of the attackers was still unknown but assured that the culprits would be apprehended and brought to book.

    Yanmu said investigations had revealed that the driver that drove the vehicle that conveyed the people who attacked Zaki Biam was from the village.

    NAN recalls that gunmen had besieged Zaki Biam village in a Toyota car few days ago shooting sporadically and destroying things on their trail.

    The police said they were yet to fathom the motive of the attackers, but appealed to those with useful information that might lead to their arrest to volunteer it to security agencies.
     

  • Gov. Ortom’s National Handball Tourney: Eight teams qualify

    Eight male teams have qualified for the quarter-final stage of the ongoing Gov. Samuel Ortom’s National Handball championships in Makurdi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the eight teams are expected to slug it out at the quarter-finals of the championships, which started with 15 male teams in its preliminaries.

    The table for the quarter-final matches shows that Abuja-based Safety Shooters will square up against Lagos SeaSiders in the first quarter-finals match, while the second match will be decided between Niger United and Benue Buffaloes.

    Kano Pillars will lock horns with Taraba Peace in the third quarter-final match, while D-Defenders slug it out with Yobe Warriors in the fourth quarter-final game.

    NAN reports that all quarter-final matches will be played on Saturday.

    NAN also reports that seven teams that failed to cross the preliminary stage of the contest were COAS Shooters, Nigerian Navy, Borno Spiders, Idah Pillars, Delta Force, Rising Stars and Anambra Kangaroos.

    The tournament which started on March 19 is expected to end on March 28 with the award of trophies to winners.

    Meanwhile, the results of matches played on Thursday evening showed that Yobe Warriors defeated Idah Pillars 30-21, Delta Force lost to Kano Pillars 30-22 and Benue Buffaloes pipped COAS Shooters 39-38.

    Other results showed that Taraba Peace lost to D-Defenders 17-30, Niger United grounded Rising Stars 27-24, while Anambra Kangaroos lost to Lagos SeaSiders 16-42.

    In the female category, Defender Babes escaped with a narrow win of 20-19 against the Benue Queens, Safety Babes lost to Edo Dynamos 18-23 and COAS Babes defeated Rising Stars 27-23 points.

     

  • National Handball Championships: Safety Shooters down Benue Buffaloes 30-25

    The defending champions, Abuja-based Safety Shooters on Thursday reasserted their dominance of handball by defeating Benue Buffaloes 30-25 to top their group in the ongoing National Handball Championships in Makurdi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shooters are playing in the same group with Nigerian Navy, COAS Shooters and Benue Buffaloes of Makurdi.

    The Safety Shooters, who dominated the match from the outset to the final whistle, showed they were a team to beat at the tournament.

    NAN reports that the Buffaloes lacked the stamina and speed of the Shooters, both of which worked to the advantage of the latter.

    Coach Adole Agaba of the Buffaloes commended his team for their efforts in containing the attacking skills of the Safety Shooters, whom, he said, were more experienced.

    “The match was okay, I am satisfied with the performance of my boys; they have done well considering the fact that Benue has not played in any championship for the past 12 years.

    “This will help us to build our team for future championships; I am encouraged by their performance,’’ he told the Nes Agency of Nigeria in a post-match interview.

    Also reacting to the performance of his team, Coach Bala Mohammed of Safety Shooters said his team came to the tournament fully prepared because his team was the envy of all teams.

    “Every team wants to beat us, but we know that winning is about good management, management of time, of experience and of the support you have.

    “We saw their deficiencies and capitalised on it to maintain our lead in the match.

    “We need a lot of good work to do to continue leading if we must successfully defend this trophy.’’

    In the other matches decided earlier on Thursday, Yobe Warriors beat Idah Pillars 30-21, Kano Pillars pipped Delta Force 30-22, Benue Buffaloes won COAS Shooters by a narrow win of 39-38.

    Matches would enter the quarter-finals on Friday.

  • Court dissolves 5 year old marriage over crisis

    An FCT High Court, Maitama, on Tuesday dissolved the five- year- old marriage between Mr Agada Egwu and Onyowo, over Onyowo’s refusal to consummate the marriage and deserting the matrimonial home.

    The judge, Justice Jude Okeke, in his judgment on the divorce petition filed by Egwu, held that the marriage has broken irretrievably.

    “The court is satisfied with the evidence of the petitioner, that the respondent did not only refuse to consummate the marriage, but also deserted the petitioner for over a period of one year.

    “The respondent undeniably parked out of her matrimonial home since June 2014, the petitioner has satisfied the grounds provided by Section 15 (2) (a)and (b) of the Matrimonial Causes Act, 2004,’’ Okeke held.

    The judge said that evidences before the court were sufficient to grant dissolution of the marriage contracted under the Marriage Act on June 19, 2012 at the Marriage Registry, Makurdi.

    Okeke who reviewed the evidence, noted that immediately after the marriage on June 19, 2012, the wife changed from a caring and loving wife she presented herself prior to the marriage.

    The husband’s efforts to unravel the sudden change proved abortive. She suddenly hated him, and treated him with scorn that made him reluctant to come home after close of work, but he still endured.

    In his effort to resolve this problem, he reported to his pastor and some relatives yet it was not resolved.

    He said his wife denied him conjugal rights and he reasoned that because of this the marriage did not produce any child

    Okeke noted that while the petitioner was away in June 2014, the respondent who left the matrimonial home earlier to Makurdi, came and parked her belongings

    In 2015, the traditional marriage was annulled, with the return of the bride price he paid on her.

    The court noted that the respondent did not file any reply though represented by a counsel.

    Okeke said that “the court has no option than to act accordingly.’’

  • Six farmers in court for burning old men

    A Makurdi Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday remanded six farmers who allegedly burnt an old man to death and injured four others.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Franca Yuwa, remanded the accused at the Makurdi Prisons custody, and adjourned the case until May 10 for mention.

    The court could not take the plea of the accused as Yuwa said that she needed the advice of the state’s director of public prosecutions.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused are Celestine Abwa, Apuu Orkaa, Aondohemba Terkula, Terhemen Tseua, Asue Iorker and Teryima Ukete.

    They were charged with conspiracy, mischief and homicide.

    The farmers, who hail from Agelaga Kohov Shangev-ya in Adikpo Local Government Area of Benue, allegedly burnt Mr Michael Atse to death and caused various degrees of injuries on four other elders.

    The four others are Messrs Alkali Gbodi, Ashim Labe, Ape Labe and Feerenga Apine.

    The accused allegedly burnt the old people, who they claimed bewitched their friend, Mr Msughter Azua, to death.

    The prosecutor, Magistrates’ Court, told the court that the case was reported to the Adikpo Police Division by Msughter Azua’s brother, William, on March 6.

    According to the prosecutor, William, said that his younger brother, Msughter, got ill and died a natural death but the accused, who were his friends, went and picked the elders in the family.
    According to him, the accused claimed that the five elders bewitched their friend – Msughter- to death.

    Owochio submitted that the accused tortured the elders and set fire on them.

    He said that the accused burned Atser to death and caused the other four to sustain various degrees of injuries.

    The prosecutor submitted that that the accused also damaged the windscreen Feeranga Apine’s Toyota Carina E marked YGJ 306 AA.

    He said that investigations into the case were still ongoing, and asked the court for another date for mention.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the alleged offences contravened Sections 97, 329, 246 and 222 of the Penal Code, Laws of Benue State, 2004.

  • University dropout remanded over alleged kidnapping in Kogi

    A 31-year-old university dropout, Dick Onuku, who allegedly kidnapped one Makama Adamu, and collected 12 million from his family, is to remain in prison pending the determination of his case.

    A Chief Magistrate, Mr. Levi Animoku, gave the order in Lokoja after rejecting the suspect’s bail application.

    He described the crime as heinous, and declared that kidnapping was “one of the horrifying social vices prevalent in the society, especially Kogi”.

    “It has often led to deaths of innocent Nigerian citizens,’’ he stressed.

    He said that the presumption of innocence, as argued by G.O. Adih, counsel to the accused, was not absolute.

    “The offence carries high penalty and the propensity to elope justice is high.

    “Therefore, bail is refused. The accused shall be remanded at the Federal Prisons, Koton-Karfe,’’ he stated.

    Animoku adjourned the case to April 4, for mention.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Mohammed Abaji, in his objection to the bail application, had urged the court to take cognizance of the severe nature of the case.

    He said that the accused, in the company of others, now at large, while armed with dangerous weapons, including guns and cutlasses, kidnapped Adamu, a resident of Otukpo road, at Opulega in Ankpa Local Government of Kogi.

    He said that the accused, who gave his address as Theo Plaza, Duste Alaji, FCT, Abuja committed the offence on February 13.

    Abaji said that Onuku and his gang forcefully abducted Adamu, blindfolded and took him to an unknown destination from where they put a phone call to the family, demanding N12 million as ransom.

    “Investigation led to the arrest of the accused, who made a confessional statement on how the operation was planned, executed and how the ransom of N12 million was shared among the members,’’ the prosecutor said.

    Abaji told the court that the accused was a student of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, but was later withdrawn.

    He said that the offence contravened Section 97(1), 305 of the Penal Code and 4(3) of the Kogi State Kidnapping and Other Related Offences (Prohibition) Law, 2015.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty, while his counsel, Adih, applied for his bail pursuant to the provisions of Section 36(5) of the Constitution and 341(2 and 3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

    Under Kogi State laws, kidnapping attracts life imprisonment on conviction.

     

  • Suspected cultists abduct, gang rape girl, 15, in Benue

    Suspected cultists in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State has reportedly gang-raped a 15-year old girl.

    Impeccable sources told NAN that the teenager was abducted on January 5, by the cultists.

    The report said that the victim, who went into a coma after the rape, is being treated at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi.

    The victim’s father, Mr Terlanga Ugba, told newsmen at the hospital in Makurdi on Monday that his daughter left home at about 11 a.m on Jan. 5 to buy some tailoring materials for her sewing work but never returned.

    Ugba said that they searched for her in the hospitals, churches and friends’ houses but did not find her until the following day when he lodged a formal complaint with the Katsina-Ala Police Station.

    He stated that he followed up the development with a special prayer session for her recovery.

    He narrated that a church member later called to inform him that she saw his daughter with a suspected notorious cultist (name withheld).

    Ugba said he organised another search party on receiving the phone to comb all the criminal hideouts in Katsina-Ala until they found the girl being dragged out from one of the hideouts by the river bank to cover tracks of the crime.

    He said the search party arrested the suspect with the help of some Okada riders and took him and the girl to the police station.

    According to him, he was later asked by the police to take the girl to the hospital for medical attention while they detained the suspect.

    He said that he rushed his daughter to Nguher Clinic, Katsina-Ala, in a semi-conscious state where she narrated her ordeal to him and the doctor on call.

    However, Ugba said that the vigilante group in the area arrested one of the suspects (name withheld) and handed him over to the police.

    According to the victim, she was abducted by a group of boys as soon as she stepped into their street on the fateful day.

    She said that she was blindfolded and taken to an unknown place where they gave her four injections.

    She told her father and the doctor that she was not given water or any food for the two days they kept her there, adding that they forced her to smoke weeds while they took turns to rape her.

    She added that the suspects, three in number, told her that she was always snubbing them whenever they needed her attention with a threat to deal with her.

    Dr Austin Oko referred the victim to BSUTH upon a medical assessment which revealed sexual assault on the girl, no bleeding seen while traces of hard substance was found in her blood.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Bashir Makama, confirmed that the reported, saying that he had ordered the DPO in Katsina-Ala to transfer the case to the state CID for further investigation.

    Makama assured the public of police action, explaining that rape was a capital offence and no police officer could play with it.

    He said the investigation was in top gear to arrest the fleeing suspects.

  • Abducted radio journalist regains freedom in Benue

    The Benue Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the release of a Radio Journalist, Mrs Iyuadoo Tor-Agbidye, who was kidnapped four days ago in her house in Makurdi.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Moses Yamu, confirmed the release to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi.

    Yamu said that the kidnapped journalist was released in the early hours of Tuesday, adding that no ransom was paid.

    He explained that police investigations revealed that the kidnappers might have had strong connection with the family.

    He disclosed that some arrests were made in connection with the crime, stressing that investigations were ongoing to ensure full punishment of the culprits.

    NAN reports that the kidnapped journalist is married to Mr Achim Tor-Agbidye, the Zonal Manager of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Makurdi.

  • Benue PDP in disarray, inaugurates new executive

    Benue PDP in disarray, inaugurates new executive

    The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the National level have started manifesting in Benue state where a parallel State Executive Committee of the party was on Tuesday inaugurated.

    Factional National Chairman of the party Senator Ali Modu Sherif was represented at the occasion which was held at the Makurdi residence of former Military Governor of Katsina State Senator Joseph Akaagerger by the Chairman of PDP Elders Forum in the state Chief Abu King Shuluwa.

    King Shuluwa told party faithful that the inauguration of the new state Exco followed the conduct of primaries by the faction beginning from the ward and local government levels saying the Congresses it conducted were in line with the lay down procedure of electing party officials as enshrine in the party’s constitution.

    Those inaugurated were; Hon Dan Ale, State Chairman, Andrew Pila,. Deputy Chairman, Orlalu Sambe, Vice Chairman, Paul Obaike, Vice Chairman, Orshio Kumeh State Secretary , Marce Banka, Ass State Sec and Yusuf Mudi as State Treasurer.
    Others were; Owicho Mike Sunday, State Ass Treasurer, Augustine Ogbu Fin Sec, Pius Nyager PRO 1, Francis Onuh, PRO 2, Joshua Mbakuuv Auditor, Akaa lim, State Youth Leader, Susan Emaikwu, State Woman Leader, Bar Edward Ikyoive, Ass Org Sec, Inalegwu Jacobs, Ass Org Sec, Ogbaji Aduma Ass Org Sec, Bem Nyitor Ass Org Sec, while Douglas Okpenge and Ode Onum are Ex Officios 1 and 2 respectively.

    In his inaugural speech, the new State Chairman of the party, Hon Dan Ale, thanked members for the opportunity given them and promised the reconciliation of aggrieved members as well as work for the growth of the party. Also present was the Deputy National Woman Leader Mrs. Hannatu Ullam.

  • 2Face leads stars to shut down Makurdi

    2Face leads stars to shut down Makurdi

    Makurdi, Benue State, came alive last Saturday night as thousands of music lovers gathered at IBB Square for the debut of Star Music The Trek 2016.

    The concert hosted by Gbenga Adeyinka started on an exceptionally high note with an array of budding music talents who dazzled audience with their performances. However, it was Benue-born 2face that led Ice Prince, Cynthia Morgan, Wande Coal and Burna Boy to give makurdi rsidents an unforgettable experience.

    While Wande coal some of his classic hit singles like Bumper to Bumper, Se na like this, Super woman, Booty call, My woman – My everything and a host of other songs, Ice prince gave a dexterous performance while singing to timeless singles such as Oleku, Aboki, Excellency and That could be us.

    The concert also saw an amazing dance routine from Cynthia Morgan, who performed her new single Bubble bup and scintillated the cheering crowd with songs like ‘I’m Taken’, ‘Lead Me On’, ‘Popori’ and the crowd-pleasing-song ‘German Juice’, which left the audience yearning for more.

    Burnaboy had his A-game on, as he connected with the crowd throughout his 40 minutes set on stage. He serenaded the crowd to amazing songs like Don Gorgon, Yawa Dey, Won da mo, Oluwa Burna and a couple of other songs from his stable.

    And with a combination of skillful backup singers, music icon and headline act, 2Baba closed the concert with a one-hour live performance through which he dished out some philosophies about life.

    The Deejays weren’t left out on the night. DJ ‘BIG N’ and DJ Neptune brought incredible life to the city of Makurdi, turning up the mix and gracefully giving upcoming acts a shot at fame during their moments on stage.

    The Star Music trek train heads to Abuja for the second concert on October 8 in the line-up of its five-city tour.