Connect with us

Trending

Over 50 Benue communities displaced by armed herdsmen – Emergency Management Agency

Published

on

Benue State

At least 50 communities across 25 council wards in five local government areas (LGAs) in Benue State have been displaced by armed herdsmen.

Data released by the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) reveals that the worst-hit area is Gwer West Local Government Area, where all 15 council wards have been affected at some point.

The affected wards in Gwer West include Sengev, Gbaange/Tongov, Saav, Mbapupuu/Tswarev, Mbabuande Kyaav, Mbapa, Tsambe/Mbesev, Sengev/Yengev, Merkyegh, Nyamshi, Tijime, Tyough Ater, and Njaha.

The report was released by SEMA just days before the latest attacks in Ukum, Logo, Otukpo and Gwer East LGAs.

According to the report, titled ‘Displaced Communities in Benue State Where Fulanis Have Settled with Their Cows’, the affected local governments include Guma, Gwer East, Gwer West, Kwande, and Makurdi.

In Guma LGA, several communities in six council wards – Mbadwem, Nyiev, Mbaba, Uvir, and Mbayer/Yandev – have been taken over by the marauding herders.

In Gwer East, Mbalom council ward has also experienced displacement, with residents fleeing to safer areas.

The report further shows that at least two communities in Mbalagh and one in Bar council wards in Makurdi, the state capital, have also fallen to the attackers.

Additionally, Moon and Anwase council wards in Kwande LGA have lost a few communities to the violent herders.

“There are many more, but these are the ones I can confirm for now,” said Terna Ager, the SEMA information officer.

The devastating impact of these attacks has been echoed by Iorbee Ihagh, a retired Comptroller of Prisons and leader of the three socio-cultural groups in Benue State.

Ihagh, who is from Moon ward in Kwande LGA, expressed that the entire community had been abandoned for years due to ongoing attacks. Public facilities like markets, healthcare centers, and schools have all been destroyed.

Ihagh, who also serves as the President of Mdzou U Tiv Worldwide, renewed calls for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the state due to the escalating insecurity.

Many residents displaced from their homes are currently taking refuge in 13 official internally displaced persons (IDP) camps across the state, while others are staying with relatives.

Some IDPs have been living in these camps for over eight years, with little hope of returning to their ancestral lands.

Trending

PRESS RELEASE RE: VIRAL VIDEO OF SCHOOL GIRL SMOKING.

Published

on

 

The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a deeply concerning video currently circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, depicting a school-aged girl smoking what appears to be cannabis, surrounded and cheered on by her classmates.

The video has been widely shared with captions suggesting the incident occurred within a Nigerian school, prompting significant concern, and anxiety amongst Nigerian parents and the wider community. However, preliminary investigation into its origin strongly suggests that the video did not originate in Nigeria, with multiple indicators pointing towards the video’s likely origin being in Zimbabwe.

The evidence supporting this conclusion includes the language spoken within the video. Individuals featured are heard speaking in both English and Shona, the latter being a language predominantly spoken in Zimbabwe and parts of southern Africa. Critically, no Nigerian languages or discernable Nigerian accents are present in the audio. Furthermore, the original upload of the video was accompanied by a caption written in Shona, with its initial posting on the Instagram channel @rusape_celebs_tv, a channel which is demonstrably based in the town of Rusape, Zimbabwe.

We urge the public to exercise caution when sharing unverified information, particularly when it involves sensitive content and carries the potential to negatively impact individuals, organizations, and entire communities. The Force strongly encourages responsible sharing of information and thorough verification of sources before amplifying potentially harmful claims.

FPRO, FHQ
ABUJA.

19th June, 2025.

Continue Reading

Trending

Critic files N250m defamation suit against Adamawa commissioner

Published

on

A fresh defamation lawsuit, with demands for damages has been filed against the Adamawa State Commissioner for Environment, Mohammed Sadiq by a famed critic of people in power in the state, Umar Jada, also known as Calculate.

This is a twist in the running war of words and legal battle between both parties.

Initially, it was the commissioner’s father, Sadiq Wali, who had taken Calculate before a Yola court over an audio comment against Sadiq Wali which the later claimed damaged his reputation, a fracas to which the commissioner was dragged into.

While that initial case is still running in court, Calculate dragged Sadiq Wali before the Adamawa State High Court and, accusing him of a deliberate attempt to malign and assassinate his character.

He is now demanding N250 million as general damages.

Cslculate’s case, filed under writ of summons No. HC/ADSY/2025, marks a surprising escalation in the public rift between the two political actors who only last week, acted as if a lull was in the offing.

In his deposition, Calculate alleges that on May 25, 2025, Mohammed Sadiq published a series of defamatory statements on his Facebook page, referring to him in demeaning language.

Calculate, praying the court to order the defendant to pay N250 million in damages for libel, is also asking the court to mandate Mohammed Sadiq to immediately remove the offending publications from his Facebook wall.

This defamation suit comes on the heels of the initial dramatic legal encounter when a Magistrate Court ordered the arrest and detention of Calculate following a high-profile defamation complaint by Sadiq Wali.

The arrest sparked public outcry, resulting in a legal intervention after Calculate filed an appeal before an Adamawa State High Court which granted him bail under less stringent conditions.

The present lawsuit by Calculate has now been seen as a counteroffensive, although it took many by surprise because a mediation move made last week by a prominent politician, Senator Ishaka Abbo appeared to be succeeding, with both parties thought to considering a peaceful settlement.

Continue Reading

Trending

Benue crisis: We’re just speaking English – Varsity don, John Ogi worries no arrest made yet

Published

on

A senior lecturer at Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, MOAUM, Dr John Ogi, has lamented that, until now, no arrest has been made regarding the unprovoked attack in Yelewata community, Benue State, where over 200 unsuspecting residents were killed a few days ago.

Ekwutosblog reports that President Bola Tinubu, who was in the state on Wednesday over the incident, had questioned why no arrest had yet been made.

Shortly after the president’s meeting with key stakeholders in Makurdi, the lecturer took to his official Facebook page to express concern over what may happen next.

He wrote, “My worries stand tall, with the number of securities I saw today in Makurdi and nobody has even been arrested as a suspect and no official intelligence information about the root cause of the killings or the sponsors. No open resistance done anywhere.

“We are just speaking english, after today, what is next is the big question. Has today’s engagement commissioned the beginning of investigation or is it a mark of possible signing for the job to end the killings and for lives to be protected to start?

“Let the work go beyond talking to action. Must a president visit before the job be done and done well. How long has this been going on before today.”

Continue Reading

Trending