Benue News: Trending news in Benue State today

1. Operatives of the Benue State Police Command said it has neutralized 14 Bandits in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

The Command’s Spokeperson, DSP. Anene Sewuese Catherine, said in statement Sunday afternoon.

2. Mr Denen, a mentally ill man, has shocked residents in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, as residents continue to flock to him at the JS Tarka Foundation, where he provides medical services to a huge number of individuals with various health problems.

The mentally unstable man would upon seeing a patient, write a number of Tiv traditional ailment affecting the person and directing them to different traditional doctors who are expected to treat the patient.

According to a source, the man had Masters Degree from the University of Jos before his unfortunate predicament.

3. The lawmaker representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency of Benue State, Samuel Godday, has decamped from Labour Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

IDOMA TV reports that the lawmaker officially penned down his name on the party’s membership register at a registration exercise held in his home town, Ogbaulu, Agatu Local Government Area.

Godday promised to hold a decamping ceremony in due course subject to subsequent meetings and consultations with the party stakeholders, while explaining that his decision to hold a low key registration exercise was due to the current security challenges facing his constituency.

The lawmaker further described his decision as an imperative one aimed at consolidating the gains of democracy and attracting further dividends of quality leadership to his constituency which remains a passionate priority for him as a people-oriented leader.

4. The Senator Representing Benue South Senatorial District, Comrade Abba Patrick Moro, during the week, attended the decamping ceremony of some members of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.

Barrister Adole Eche Godwin, a former House of Assembly aspirant for Okpokwu State Constituency on the platform of SDP in the 2019 General Elections, led his party members and supporters to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Ede Okpoga West Ward, in Okpokwu.

Speaking during the ceremony, Senator Moro reaffirmed the fact that PDP, since 1999 until the present dispensation, has never been defeated at any election in Okpokwu Local Government Area, stressing that as it were in the beginning so shall it be even now that Barrister Eche has joined the fold to make the victory better.

He assured those who decamped to the PDP that they would be treated fairly and equally as the party doesn’t discriminate between old and new members, promising that from today whatever is due to them from the party would be given to them with all the party members’ support.

The Comrade-Senator thanked the decamping group for believing in his leadership of the people and deciding to join him in his party to make it better and stronger. He challenged them to be ready to serve, noting that if they serve others well, you will also be served.

5. Relatively, Senator Moro has asked his constituents to keep hope alive and keep praying for him as he strives to better their lots through the red chambers of the National Assembly.

Senator Moro stated this in a press statement issued Thursday evening by his Special Assistant on Media, Ameh Comrade Godwin.

The lawmaker in the statement thanked his constituents for the massive support being given to him in his first 2 years in office.

The statement quoted Senator Moro as saying that the last two years have been interesting, especially as he is delivering on his campaign promises to his people despite the COVID-19 pandemic that devastated economic activities across the globe and the security challenges plaguing the country.

The Comrade-senator said the warm reception he receives in communities he visits and the kind words he gets on daily basis via social media, text messages and other channels, especially on his second year scorecard, is a testament to the fact that his leadership at the senate is much appreciated by his people.

6. Fresh facts have emerged on the murder of Josephine Cynthia Onche, the Benue-born National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer that was allegedly killed killed by her fiancé identified as Christopher Akpan.

IDOMA TV reports that the victim said to be a daughter of the late mayor of Otukpo, was declared missing for about two years before her grave was recently discovered in Oju local government area of Benue state, after a motorcyclist reportedly told her family how her fiancé allegedly used her for ritual.

Meanwhile, a police report says the deceased’s fiancé, Akpan, committed the crime to avoid paying a N14million debt owed the victim.

The victim was allegedly killed and buried in a shallow grave in December 2019, few days to their wedding.

Parading the suspect on Wednesday, June 16, the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said late Onche was in a relationship with Christopher, who had professed love and promised to marry her.

7. Ado Local Government Council of Benue State has announced plans to prosecute those who purchase cattle from sellers in the bush.

Chairman of the council, James Oche, stated this on Wednesday when he received members of the Independent Print Media Publishers Association of Nigeria, (IPPAN) who paid him a courtesy call in Igumale, the local government headquarters.

He said an Executive Bill to give teeth to the order would soon be sent to the Legislative Council, adding that when it takes effect, buyers of cattle could only do so from ranches.

IDOMA TV reports that bill is in furtherance to the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Establishment of Ranches Law.

According to Oche, any violation would lead to the arrest and prosecution of both the seller and the buyer.

He announced that within the last few weeks, Ado local government has lost over 200 persons to herdsmen attacks and over 150 persons in hospitals with varying degrees of injury, pointing out that there were over 7000 internally displaced persons in various camps in the area.

8. Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has urged more states of the county to enact Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law to completely phase out open grazing in Nigeria.

Governor Ortom made the call during the week in Makurdi while delivering a keynote address at the 2021 annual law week celebration with the theme “Open Grazing in Nigeria: Threat to National and Food Security, National Cohesion and Sustainable Development.”

He said Nigeria is ripe for the implementation of a policy on ranching as captured in the National Livestock Transformation Plan that was adopted by the National Economic Council, NEC, which he noted would not only protect farming communities but also stop cattle rustling.

The Governor urged the Federal Government to publicly condemn the atrocities perpetrated by armed herdsmen in Nigeria, arrest and prosecute the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and other Fulani socio-cultural groups who own up to killings and destruction of communities.

He said Benue vehemently stands against grazing routes and any other policy under the guise of open grazing, stressing that grazing routes are not only archaic but anti-development and retrogressive.

The Governor charged lawyers to reflect soberly on the future of Nigeria with a view to making it better, pointing out that the country is in live support and the oxygen is fast running out.

9. Operatives of the 72 Special Forces Brigade, Nigeria Army, Makurdi, acting on intelligence report, on Wednesday, arrested 73 young men of various addresses, all from Nasarawa State at Agan Toll Gate, Makurdi.

The suspects were said to be on their way to Imo State when they were nabbed.

IDOMATV reports that the young men, with 47 Bajaj motorcycles were in 5 trucks conveying some minerals from Plateau State to a Port Harcourt based company.

Benue State Deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abounu, commended the Special Forces for their diligence and professional conduct. He stated that despite the attempts to evade arrest, the soldiers were able to apprehend the trucks and arrest the men.

He was happy that contrary to the speculations making the round on social media about the confiscation of a truck loaded with arms and men to attack the town, no arms were found after a thorough search conducted by the soldiers.

10. The Vice-Chancellor of Benue State University, Makurdi, Professor Tor Iorapuu, has revealed that students of the institution are owing the institution an accumulated sum of N1.82 billion over the years occasioned by their refusal to pay fees.

Professor Iorapuu made the disclosure on Monday, while speaking with journalists in Makurdi.

The VC said the amount was accumulated between 2010 and 2019.

He noted that within the short period of time he had assumed duties as head of the school, the management’s had been insisting on doing the right thing, leading to some remarkable achievements.