No fewer than 20 people Weekend lost their lives and several property destroyed in Okpancheni and Ekwo area of Agatu local government of Benue state when unknown gunmen numbering about 19 invaded the area.

According to an eye witness, the incident occurred at about 6:00 am
on sunday, when the hoodlums said to be wearing masks invaded the villages,killing and burning houses until they were halted by a group of indigenes from another village who challenged them.

In the ensuing clash, 17 of the men of the underworld were said to have lost their lives before the police arrived.

Meanwhile, effort to reach the Benue state police command to comment on the issue was not possible as the authorities were said to be busy trying to restore peace to the area.

-Vanguard

From TAIWO AMODU, Abuja

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Board of Trustees, (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, said yesterday that with prayers, the ruling party will survive its present challenges and retain its position in the polity. Anenih disclosed this to journalists shortly after a closed-door meeting with the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, at the party’s presidential campaign office, Legacy House, Abuja.

Asked by newsmen what role the BoT would play under his leadership to resolve the crisis in the party ahead of general elections in 2015, Chief Anenih said: “Prayers, prayers, prayers ! That is what we need!!” His meeting with Tukur, according to Daily Sun findings, was to discuss the agenda of the meeting of National Caucus of the party scheduled for last night at the Presidential Villa. It was also revealed that in a move to strenghten the camp of President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of 2015, certain PDP governors have been elevated to join the rank of members of the PDP National Caucus.

According to the PDP Constitution 2009( as amended), no serving governor is a member of the caucus. The new PDP Constitution, 2012( as amended) which made provision for six governors was yet to be adopted by the PDP National Executive Committee. The NEC meeting was held last July. But in a letter signed by Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, and addressed to Alhaji Tukur, the latter was asked to inform six of the PDP governors to make themselves available for the National Caucus meeting.

The governors as stated in the letter made available by a source are Ibrahim Shema, Godswill Akpabio and Gabriel Suswam, Governors of Katsina, Akwa Ibom and Benue states respectively. Others are Theodore Orji, Isa Yuguda and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Abia, Bauchi and Delta states respectively. In the recent move to remove Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the six governors were the arrowheads of the aborted coup.

Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema was pencilled down to succeed Amaechi, while Akpabio had since emerged as chairman of a new platform, the PDP Governors’ Forum. The letter signed by Ogiadomhe also called for the presence of Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, his counterpart in the Transport Ministry, Ibrahim Umar and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) to join the National Caucus.

But while Section 12.67 of the PDP 2009 Constitution ( as amended) made statutory provision for “three ministers who are members of the party, nominated by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, one of whom shall be the Attorney-General of Federation,” as members of caucus, it made no provision for governors for serving or former governors. Other members of the National Caucus are chairman, deputy national chairman, national secretary and national legal adviser.

Other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) who equally belong to the party caucus are national treasurer and woman leader. The constitution also accomodates the chairman and secretary of the BoT. The rest are President, Vice- President, Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives and certain principal members of the National Assembly.

The functions of the party caucus, according to section 12.68 of the party constitution, is to “harmonise the relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government and coordinate their activities and those of the party.” It is also to “consider, review and advise on policies and programmes of government.”

Via Sun

Edwin, a 27 year old graduate of the Calvin College of Education where he bagged an NCE had a history of insanity which also runs in his family.

Saturady Vanguard gathered from sources in Naka the local government headquaters that the culprit popularly called Nomjov slaughtered some his victims at the Naka earth dam, just few metres from their homes and the site of his local block molding industry.

Our source disclosed that the culprit had over a long period of time, suffered from mental derangement and was taken to the Makurdi Federal Medical Centre where he was treated of his insanity and discharged.

But unknown to his people, the young man relapsed into insanity again until he ran amok, killing his brothers, a woman and children in the community.

It was gathered that he had invited some his victims to the earth dam and the factory site pretending that he wanted something interesting to show his victims but ended up slaughtering them.

Though members of the community meted out jungle justice on the insane young man by beating him to death in revenge for the bizarre killings of his victims, his elder brother, Daniel Gyado, a health worker at the local government secretariat told Saturday Vanguard that Edwin lived a normal life and interacted very well with the people until his mental derangement.

Daniel recalled that on Saturday 19th January, 2013, Edwin complained bitterly to him that his in-laws were pressurizing him to complete the bride price on his wife which according to him was a directive from the gods.

He said, “When he told me that, I encouraged him not to be worried by their complaint and assured him that we would pay his wife’s bride price after consultations with the village head”.

Daniel added that he was however shocked a day later when someone called to inform him that his younger brother had gone on rampage in the village, killing five persons including a woman and her daughter whom he hacked to death.

“I could not believe it and so, set out to look for him. Someone told me that he was spotted at Imande village, some few minutes from here, but later I discovered that a mob had killed him at the Makurdi road in Naka town”, Daniel said.

Narrating how the man killed one of his victims, Zaki Tor Gbenda who was a childhood friend of the insane young man before his death said Edwin hacked a 30 year old Mrs. Nyishima Tyosue a native of Tse-Dzwatema, Mbayoondu, Gbaange/ Tongov to death.

“The murdered woman was my uncle’s wife. I watched from afar as the woman pursued Edwin with a stick after he had killed his nine- year old son Terhile Tyosue with a matchet. Her strength failed her and she fell down. Edwin who she was chasing suddenly came after her, caught up with her and ordered her to kneel down. And in a jiffy, I saw him chop off the woman’s head with the machet. I shouted and he ran after me”, Zaki said as he fought back tears.

Hitherto, the lunatic had invited his 15 year old brother, Iorguma to his block moulding site on the pretense that he wanted to show him something. While there, he chopped off his brother’s head. It was gathered that the insane man suddenly started pursuing people on the streets and a community earth dam where he caught up with a 10 year old Dangote Samuel of Tse-Uchough Nyamshi village and another nine- year old Joy Ortwav both of whom he seriously injured with his machete but later died at the Federal Medical center, Apir. “After this last killing, the people became aware of his escapades, so youths in the village mobilized themselves and searched the entire village until they caught him where he was hiding in a bush in a nearby village.

”They had contemplated taking him to the police but they finally resolved to mete out jungle justice on him by beating him to death”.

Commenting on the unfortunate incident, Chairman of Gwer West local council, Mrs. Eunice Mbajwa who described the incident as horrifying said she could not comprehend the unfortunate killings.

“For sometime now, I’ve not been able to sleep well nor have I been able to resume work, it’s indeed saddening. But generally, we have ensured that peace prevailed in the entire community”, Mrs. Mbajwa said.

At the time of visiting the troubled village, some youths were seen digging the grave for the deceased mad man while his shocked wife who had been sobbing uncontrolably managed to utter these words, “my husband was a nice man. I never envisaged that he would commit such an act.”

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in charge of the state,Deputy Superintendent of Police Daniel Ezeala who also confirmed the incident, decried the villagers resort to jungle justice but added that the command was investigating the matter to ascertain if the man was actually insane.

Via Vanguard

In a statement, the party advised the management of the Center, which is located in Atlanta, Georgia, to withdraw the award immediately. The governor was presented with the award on January 18.

“While ACN has no issues with Governor Suswam receiving a personal award for private endeavors, we feel ashamed, betrayed, and embarrassed by the said award given to him for “meritorious” service to his nation,” the statement said, stressing that Suswam’s well-known profligacy ought not to be rewarded by the revered Center.

The party said it was even more appalled that the Center went ahead with the award despite having been promptly alerted about the risk it was taking. It described the conferment of the noble award on an undeserving individual as a betrayal of Dr. King’s legacy.

“The organizers of the 2013 MLK Award have robbed the people of Benue State, Nigeria of their right to commemorate the noble memory of Dr. King at this year’s remembrance, by not only honoring the plunderer of their commonwealth, but also cheapening the image of Dr. King in an apparently monetized award.”

ACN called on the Center to understand that the good people of Benue State have been shortchanged for the past five years by Suswam’s poor governance and activities that are at total variance with the ideals that Dr. King stood for.

“Governor Gabriel Suswam has totally embraced unbridled violence to achieve his political ambitions, contrary to the non-violence principle that Dr. King promoted and died for,” the statement said.

It pointed out that while the governor celebrated his award with pomp and pageantry at the Hyatt Plaza in Atlanta, for instance, hospitals in Benue State are starved of medication, and teachers’ salaries remain unpaid.

It also said: “Despite the purported commissioning of the water works in Makurdi, Otobi and Katsina-Ala by President Goodluck Jonathan, water is very far from being available to the people because reticulation has not been done. It is therefore, not possible for Governor Suswam to have saved over two million children through the provision of clean water. Most families still depend on other sources of water supply in Benue State for domestic use.”

ACN urged the MLK Center to withdraw the award so as to avoid the impression being created in the minds of Benue people and Nigerians that the legacy of the legendary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has been auctioned to the governor at the cost of their commonwealth.

The Republic of Korea has donated 20 rice mills worth $200,000 to three flood affected states-Benue,Kogi and Bayelsa- to cushion the effect of the disaster.

Ten of the mills are for Benue while five each go to Kogi and Bayelsa States.

Each of the mills is capable of processing 300 kilogrammes of rice per hour.

The ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Jong-hyun Choi, who handed over the mills to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja, expressed delight that his country is part of the Nigeria’s comprehensive rehabilitation of the flood victims.

He hoped that the machines will assist Nigerian farmers overcome the plight caused by the flood witnessed in Nigeria last year.

He also pledged the commitment of Korea to assist NEMA in the area of capacity building for disaster management.

“We will go beyond what we are donating today. We will assist in the areas of training and capacity building of your staff in disaster management.

“This is part of my country’s commitment to pay back what we owed the international community. We would like to share with countries like Nigeria, the experiences we have acquired over the year,” he stated.”

The Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, thanked the Korean government and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for the gesture, which he described as a testimony of the mutual relationship between the two countries.
-Nation

MAKURDI — A 16-year-old boy, Terseer Iorparegh, was yesterday caught stuck in a high tension cable while attempting to vandalize the PHCN cable along Naka road in Makurdi.

Vanguard gathered from the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Gabriel Suswam on Public Utilities, Mr. Gaddafi Asemanya who was at the scene said residents of the area were woken up by shout of help from the young man around 2.am on Thursday only to behold the teenager hanging between the high tension cable after he had suffered shock and first degree burns

Asemanya said the teenager who had removed the lower cable climbed the PHCN pole to vandalize the upper cable when his leg touched a line which caused a spark and fire which spread over his body while he persistently shouted for help.

According to the governor’s aide, “vandalism of PHCN property has become a serious issue in Benue State, in the last one year. I have apprehended over 30 vandals, while some were prosecuted many of these persons were set free because PHCH has no legal team to ensure the prosecution of these suspects”, he said.

Terseer before the elotrocution

He explained that the residents had wanted to lynch the vandal but for his quick intervention and assistance by men of the fire service, the police and officers and men of the civil defence corps who were on hand to assist recover the vandal.

The Special Assitant further disclosed that the suspect was receiving medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi where he lied critically ill with no one coming to identify him.

Terseer arrested after suffering burns.

Reacting, PHCN spokesman, Uche Oranya who appreciated the prompt action of the residents of the area, as well as that of the governor’s aide called on security operatives to ensure adequate safeguard of PHCN facilities in the state.

-Vanguard

Nomadic Muslim herdsmen attacked a Christian village in central Nigeria over long-running land disputes, killing at least 30 people in their latest assault, police said Wednesday.

The attack in Benue state comes as a bomb exploded Wednesday in northeast Nigeria, apparently killing a police officer and sparking reprisal attacks by the military in the region, residents said.

In Benue state, the attack Sunday targeted a rural village of Christian Tiv people called Yogbo in the state, police spokesman Daniel Ezeala said. After the attack, those living there fled, community leader Daniel Tsenghul said.

The Tiv are one the largest of the minority ethnic groups in Nigeria, a nation of more than 160 million people and more than 250 different ethnicities.

The Tiv and the Hausa-Fulani herdsmen have previously fought over land in Benue. In December, authorities said fighting between the two groups displaced some 5,000 people.

Meanwhile, a bomb detonated Wednesday morning in Potiskum, Yobe state, which targeted soldiers in the city trying to fight the radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram.

Security forces later cordoned off large portions of the city and began a door-to-door search, state police commissioner Patrick Egbuniwe said. Residents there said they heard gunshots throughout the day as soldiers raided civilian homes. At least four homes were set ablaze by soldiers, the residents said.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that fighting erup-ted between the border communities on Tuesday night, following a land dispute adjoining the warring neighbours.

The source said that houses, huts and farmland were not spared by the warring communities, leading to the displacement of villagers.

The state Commissioner for Finance, Mr Omadachi Oklobia, confirmed the death of two of his cousins when he appeared before the state assembly to give the position of the state finance on Wednesday.

The representatives of the communities prayed the House of Assembly, through a motion, to call on the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Christopher Katso, to deploy his officers and men in the crisis zone, in order to restore law and order in the communities.

Honourable Baba Ode, representing Otukpo/Akpa constituency, who raised the motion on Wednesday at the floor of the assembly, informed the members that he received a phone call on Tuesday night, intimating him that fighting had erupted between his constituents and the neighbouring Ijegwu community in Obi Local Government Area.

Supporting the motion, Honourable Nick Eworo, who represents Obi state constituency, regretted that the communities had, in the last 10 years, been hostile to each other.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ezeala, said he was yet to be briefed on the crisis.

via Tribune

The NYSC members who were travelling in a 14- seater bus belonging to Anglican Church, Diocese of Otukpo had just collected their call-off letters and were heading to Otukpo to report.

An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity told The Guardian the accident might have been caused by over-speeding that made the bus to somersault off the road into a deep gully.

Two of the corps members died at the spot while eleven others who were critically injured were rushed to the Federal Medical center, Makurdi and St. Vincent hospital, Aliade.

Meanwhile, Governor Gabriel Suswam has visited the scene of the accident and also gone to see the injured corps members at St. Vincent Hospital Aliade, where he directed that they be transferred to Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi for proper medical attention.

-via Guardian

Also recovered from the gangs in the last few weeks were assorted fire arms, live ammunitions, military camouflage and charms.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State, Mr. Ejike Alaribe who disclosed this while briefing newsmen yesterday in Makurdi, said the suspects were apprehended in parts of Makurdi town and some parts of the state.

Alaribe said the arrest of the suspects was in line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Katso, to all commands to beef up security and comb the nooks and crannies of the state to fish out those perpetrating criminality across the state.
He said the crack down would persist in the days ahead assuring that the Police in Benue state would not relent until “those engaged in criminality in the state are all apprehended”.

”The Commissioner of Police has given express directive to all officers at the various commands; and he has warned that the renewed onslaught must be total and not compromised”, Alaribe added.

The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer further disclosed that the Commissioner also directed intensified vehicular patrols of the entire state by officers of the command adding that men have also been detailed to embark on foot and motorbike patrols.

He urged parents to keep a close tab on the type of friends their children and wards keep stressing, “we discovered that so many innocent children and youths are lured into cultism and other forms of crimes by their bad and evil minded friends”.

According to Alaribe, all the arrested suspects would soon face prosecution in a competent court.

-Vanguard