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Apa LG Chairman confirms killing of two soldiers, others in Benue community

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The Chairman of Apa Local Government Area in Benue State, Hon Adam Ogwola, has confirmed the killing of four persons, including two soldiers and two civilians during a violent attack by suspected armed herders in Ijaha Ikobi community.

Ekwutosblog earlier reported suspected herdsmen launched a deadly attack on Ikobi-Ochekwu community in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State late Wednesday night, killing several residents, including a newlywed soldier.

Speaking to journalists via telephone on Thursday, Ogwola disclosed that the assault occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, around 3:30am.

“I received a distress call that there was an attack in the Ikobi area. Initially, efforts to reach contacts in the community proved abortive. Later, I received confirmation that two soldiers had been killed during the ambush,” the chairman said.

He further revealed that the bodies of two civilian residents, identified as Ocheje Ngbede Sani and Aduba Paul Ogboyi, were recovered on Thursday morning following the deadly ambush.

According to him, the attackers, believed to be armed herders, laid siege to the area and opened fire on both residents and responding soldiers.

The chairman explained that, in line with the community’s cultural practice, the civilians have already been buried.

“Because of our traditions, we don’t usually keep the bodies of people who die under such tragic circumstances for long. Both victims were buried shortly after their bodies were recovered,” he said.

He also confirmed that the remains of the two slain soldiers had been evacuated from the scene but said he could not verify whether they were taken to the mortuary in Ugbokpo or Makurdi.

While describing the situation as relatively calm at the moment, Ogwola noted that additional security personnel, including soldiers and policemen, have been deployed to the community to forestall further violence.

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Resigned Minister, Nnaji more honorable than others in Tinubu’s cabinet – Dele Farotimi

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Human rights activist, Dele Farotimi has said Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the immediate past Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology is the most honorable among other members of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

Farotimi made the remark in a post on X while reacting to the resignation of the Minister.

Ekwutosblog had reported that Nnaji tendered his resignation letter on Tuesday following allegation of certificate forgery.

 

It was alleged that the former minister forged the documents he submitted to the authorities when he was being screened as minister.

Reacting to the resignation, Farotimi urged others in the government, who have been accused of forgery to follow suit.

He wrote, “I don’t know him, and I no send am. BUT this guy is more honorable than every other person in the cabinet from which he has ‘honorably’ resigned.

“When is the aspiring Hitler of Obiakpor resigning, and would the honorable precedent be following suit?”

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Court orders IGP to arrest Mahmood Yakubu, ex-INEC chairman

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Despite his exit as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, has again ordered the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest the former INEC chairman, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, for an offence relating to contempt of court.

The Court order came a few hours after Yakubu left office as the INEC chairman.

The Action Alliance, AA, had instituted a case before the court challenging INEC and its former chairman, Prof Yakubu, over their non-compliance with the judgment of the Court delivered by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi in suit number FHC/OS/CS/194/2024.

In the said judgment, the court ordered INEC to put the names of the National Chairman of the Action Alliance, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, and other members of the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, on the INEC portal.

The Court also held that the names of all the state chairmen of the party be uploaded on the INEC portal.

The court held that the elective convention of the party held on the 7th of October, 2023 which produced Omoaje as the national chairman of the party and other NEC members of the party was authentic as it was properly monitored and supervised by officials of INEC in accordance with the party’s constitution and the electoral acts.

However, INEC claimed to have complied with the court judgment, but the party disagreed with the commission, as the name of Omoaje was yet to be uploaded on the commission’s website despite the orders of the Court.

Although the names of the state chairmen of the party under the leadership of Omoaje and those of the NEC members are already on the INEC portal, Omoaje’s name is yet to be uploaded as of press time, a development that the court frowned at.

The court order obtained by our correspondent dated 7th October, 2025, and signed by Mr O.M. Kilani on behalf of the Court Registrar reads in part, “it is hereby ordered that the Inspector General of Police shall cause the arrest and shall charge the defendant/judgment debtors for contempt and committal proceedings within seven days of this ruling.”

The court also awarded a cost of #100,000 against the judgment creditors.

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Nigerian Senate swears in two new senators

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The Senate has officially sworn in two newly elected senators, Joseph Ikpea and Emmanuel Nwachukwu, representing Edo Central and Anambra South senatorial districts, respectively.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over the ceremony during plenary on Wednesday, with the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Ojo, administering the oaths of office and allegiance to the new lawmakers.

Ekwutosblog reports that she swearing in follows recent by-elections conducted to fill two vacant Senate seats, one previously held by Monday Okpebholo, now Governor of Edo State and the other by the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who passed away in July 2024.

Prior to the ceremony, the Senate temporarily relaxed its rules to allow family members and dignitaries into the chamber to witness the event.

Among the high profile guests were former Delta State Governor James Ibori, former Edo State Deputy Governor and Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Sports Philip Shuaibu and other prominent political figures.

Akpabio charged the new lawmakers to diligently study and abide by the senate standing rules.

Ekwutosblog reports that with the addition of Senators Ikpea and Nwachukwu, the Senate now retains its full complement of 109 members.

 

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