Lifestyle

Mob tortures two elderly men to death in Benue over allegation of killing young man through witchcraft

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The young man Nongobo who recently completed his secondary education was reportedly rushed to the village hospital where the medics confirmed him dead.

When the news of the young school leaver broke in his community, some youths allegedly mobilised themselves to the home of the two elderly men, who are relatives of the dead boy and accused them of killing him through witchcraft.

“And that was how they started beating and cutting the two elderly men with cutlasses and axes. They even tied a rope around their necks and dragged them until they died,” the source narrated.

“The victims of the jungle justice kept screaming in their native Tiv dialect that they didn’t have a hand in the young man’s death but the mob didn’t listen to them.

“Even some members of the tortured victims’ families including their children tried to rescue them while they were being unjustly treated to various dehumanisation but their attempts were resisted.

“The men eventually died and the mob ensured that no one went close to their dead bodies which were left unattended until the next day that their corpses were taken to the morgue.”

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident, said that the suspects are currently on the run. “That incident is confirmed.

Suspects are on the run. The boy died mysteriously on the farm so some youths said it was his father and the uncle that killed him through witchcraft,” the PPRO said.

“They beat up these two men until they died alleging that they killed the boy through witchcraft. It has become an issue in Benue.

The people need to be enlightened. In the villages, those things happen and we have been talking to them and have charged so many people to court.

“I’m trying to do a programme about that on radio and television so that they will get to know more; that there is room for investigating such cases and establishing the cause of death not for them to just assume that it is witchcraft.

There are lots of factors which could lead to deaths; we have such cases of ‘witchcraft allegations’ in court.” she added.

Lifestyle

Obasanjo farm in Benue set ablaze over alleged compensation issues

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A farm belonging to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, located in the Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State was reportedly burnt last weekend.

It was gathered that The Orchard Farm, which spreads across about 2,420 hectares of land has mostly Mangos and other fruits.

Although no one could ascertain the cause of the fire, it was alleged that it may have been burnt by villages who were not compensated for their land used for the farm.

Speaking on the incident, chairman of the Gwer LGA, Emmanuel Otserga, said “the fire was caused by the deliberate act of mischief makers, because the way that farm is safeguarded, there is no way fire can cross over from any quarter into the farm.”

Otserga said over half of the farm was consumed by the fire before it was put out by firefighters.

“We received a report that the Obasanjo mango farm located at Howe was on fire and I quickly informed all the stakeholders, including traditional rulers and we swiftly moved there even the Fire Service also came but by the time we will put out the fire, over half of the farm was already razed,” he recounted to journalists.

Meanwhile, The Director of the state fire service, Donald Ikyaaza, while confirming the incident, said the farm may have been set ablaze by some indigenes, who claimed they were not compensated for the land.

My men who went there said the people were fighting for compensation for land. Maybe the land was not adequately compensated for, so that’s why they decided to set fire on the farm. That is the only information I got from them,” he added.

Ikyaaza also lamented that his men, who put out the fire, were robbed and beaten by suspected robbers.

He said, “In fact, my men while coming back in the night, armed robbers caught them, beat them seriously and collected all their handsets. That was the compensation we (firefighters) got for fighting the fire at Obasanjo’s farm. Not all the farm was burnt. Some trees are still there; the seeds were saved.”

Lifestyle

Gov Ortom orders probe into Obasanjo’s burnt farm in Benue

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Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has ordered Investigations into the burning of a farm in the state, which belongs to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The mango farm in Howe, Gwer local government area of Benue State, was burnt by suspected arsonists last weekend.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, Ortom expressed sadness over the incident, confirming it as an “act of sabotage”.

“He therefore ordered a full scale investigation into the incident to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the fire outbreak,” the statement reads partly.

The governor stressed that no act of sabotage would be tolerated in the state especially as his government had a deliberate policy to encourage local and foreign investors especially in Agriculture.

The governor was quoted thus; “it is the height of irresponsibility for anyone to think of setting ablaze a farm that is set to, in a very near future, boost the economic development of the area in particular and state in general.

“Obasanjo as a former president is a statesman and need to be accorded his due respect anywhere in Nigeria and Benue state cannot be an exception.”

He therefore directed the Benue State Commissioner of Police to ensure that the perpetrators are fished out immediately and brought to book.

Politics

APC will take over Benue in 2023 – Akume

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The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, George Akume, said on Sunday the All Progressives Congress (APC) will take over in Benue State in 2023.

Akume, who stated this at the end of the APC state congress held in Makurdi, said the successful conduct of the exercise was an indication that the party would legitimately take over power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in two years’ time.

At the congress, Austin Agada was elected the APC chairman in Benue.

The Chairman of the party’s Electoral Committee in the state, Abubakar Mohammed, who declared the result of the exercise in Makurdi, said Agada polled 1,385 votes to defeat his opponent, Mr. Omale Omale, who boycotted the election.

He said 1,500 delegates voted in the election, adding that other newly elected officials emerged unopposed.

Mohammed commended the APC leaders in Benue for the maturity they exhibited during the congress.

Politics

Gunmen kill Benue governor’s aide

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Unknown gunmen have killed AIG Christopher Dega (Rtd), Senior Special Assistant on Security to Benue state Governor Samuel Ortom.

The Nation reports that he was shot in the chest several times by gunmen on Tuesday in Jos, the Plateau State Capital.

AIG Dega was a Commissioner of Police in Borno and Edo States.

He hailed from Katsina Ala local government area in Benue state .

Details later…

Politics

Adopt RUGA if you want peace in Benue – Presidency tells Ortom

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The Presidency has urged Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State to accept RUGA and other policies if he wants peace and normalcy to return to his state.

Following a series of killings in the state by gunmen, Ortom had called for the urgent intervention of the federal government.

The governor had said President Muhammadu Buhari’s “action and inaction” was responsible for the insecurity, accusing him of Fulanisation of Nigeria.

However, a statement released by the President’s media aide, Garba Shehu, on Thursday, claimed the recent spate of insecurity ravaging the state resulted from Ortom’s rejection of Ruga settlements.

He said Ortom’s refusal to adopt the controversial Ruga policy showed he did not value people’s interest.

The governor had rejected the policy describing it as deceptive and against the interest of Benue indigenes, who are predominantly farmers.

Buhari, in the statement, also accused the governor of stirring religious and ethnic violence.

The statement read; “Benue under the Ortom administration ought to cooperate with the federal government in the implementation of a number of national strategies programmes in addressing underlying issues militating against peace, progress, and development.

This can still get done when the interest of the people is placed above all other interests. A government voted into office by the people should treat the people as its masters and not as its servants.”

“As Nigerians, we accuse colonial rulers of the policy of divide and rule.

“Today, it is our own leaders who pit region against region, religion against religion, ethnic group against ethnic group, and community against community.

“He also states his disappointment and sadness to hear Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue State, make a litany of accusations against his person and his government following the recent unfortunate incidents in the state,” the statement reads.

No responsible government takes pleasure in such events as the killing of the military and that of innocent citizens taking refuge in an Internally Displaced People’s camp.

“President Buhari is deeply pained by the terrible acts of violence happening not only in Benue State but also in other parts of the country and expects that the law enforcement agencies will go to every possible extent to catch the perpetrators of these heinous acts and bring them to justice.

“The lives of fellow citizens should not be desecrated by deploying them in political diatribe which unfortunately appeared to be the intent of the string of emotional attacks and blame laid at the doors of the President for those killings by Governor Ortom.

“President Buhari took an oath to defend the life and property of every citizen, a duty he takes seriously and is committed to ensuring.

Those citizens, regardless of their affiliations, who either incite, sponsor or are proven to be abettors of these atrocities will face the law squarely and be answerable for their crimes against our fellow citizens and nation.”

Politics

Governors worried over attacks on security personnel in Imo, Benue

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The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed worry over recent attacks on security formations in Imo, Benue, and other parts of the country.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and NGF Chairman made the concerns known at a briefing with newsmen at the end of the forum’s meeting on Wednesday night, April 14, in Abuja.

“NGF members are particularly worried following what happened in Imo state, the attacks on the correctional facility and the police command headquarters.

“The release of prisoners, and successive acts of violence and insecurity across the country, and the killings of soldiers at Benue.

“The forum has expressed its worry that it is time for us to revisit comprehensively, the nature and depth of this security crisis.

The crisis would have gotten worse if states had not been taking the actions they have been taking individually and collectively.

“It is the steps taken at the state level that have managed to reduce the depths and the enormity of the security challenges. Nonetheless, it’s still a worrisome development for us

“We feel we will need a special review of the entire gamut of the security issues that we are dealing with.

“We need to further engage the federal authorities both at the political level and federal authorities at the security level, in order to deal with this multifaceted challenges of security that we’re faced.”

In the first week of April, unknown gunmen launched multiple attacks on police formations in Imo State.

The attack occurred at the Mbiere Divisional Police Headquarters in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state.

Two similar attacks, including the one at the police headquarters and the prison headquarters in the state, have taken place before now.

The second attack was carried out a few hours after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, accompanied by the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, visited the state to assess the damage done to the police headquarters.

During the last attack, the gunmen reportedly freed some suspects from the police detention facility and also carted away phones belonging to suspects and police officers.

A police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the incident but said the officers on duty repelled the attack.

The attack has brought to six the number of police facilities targeted in the state between February and April.

Politics

ORTOM: Police deploys special team to Benue

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The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has deployed a special team to Makurdi, Benue State, followed an attack on Governor Samuel Ortom by gunmen.

The Force Spokesman, Frank Mba, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said the Special Investigative Task Force is being led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, regarded by the police authorities as a no-nonsense investigator.

He added that the team has arrived in the North-Central state.

Mba said the team consists of operatives from the Tactical Investigation Units of the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and other experienced and crack detectives with competencies in crime scene investigation and reconstruction, ballistics, fingerprint analysis, and other core areas of forensics.

One of the team’s core mandates is to take over and consolidate all ongoing investigation into the incident.

The Force spokesman said: “The team is also expected to investigate all angles of the reported attack with a view to ensuring that all persons empirically linked to the incident are apprehended and brought to book.”

“IGP Adamu also charged the team to be professional, thorough, and clinical in their investigations, stressing that they should liaise and work with the Benue State Police Command and other relevant members of the law enforcement community to ensure that they deliver on their mandate.”

Gunmen suspected to be assailants opened fire on Governor Ortom’s convoy at Tyo Mu along the Makurdi-Gboko Road in Makurdi local government area of the state on March 20.

But the attack was repelled by the governor’s security aides.

Politics

Police arrests one suspected killer of retired DIG’s wife in Benue

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The Benue State police command on Sunday confirmed the arrest of one suspect in connection with the killing of Mrs. Eunice Aghanya, wife of a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Ibezimako Aghanya.

Mrs. Aghanya was killed by gunmen at his residence in Makurdi on Saturday.

The command’s spokesperson, who Catherine Anene, disclosed this in a statement in Makurdi, said police received information on Saturday that the deceased who had planned to pay a courtesy call on a monarch in Makurdi was not seen by other chiefs in the state capital.

She said: “Police detectives who received this report swiftly moved to the deceased’s house where she resides alone behind her bakery.

Her car was seen parked in front of the gate and the fence broken into but her doors were locked.

“The team noticed bloodstains on the window of the deceased’s house and curiously broke in where they found the lifeless body lying in a pool of blood with a deep cut on the head.”

Anene said the woman’s body had been deposited at Bishop Murray Hospital Morgue in Makurdi.

Politics

Eastern Security Network officers captured notorious bandit in Benue – Nnamdi Kanu

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The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, said on Monday the operatives of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) have captured a notorious bandit simply identified as Mohammed Isa in Benue State.

IPOB had on Friday charged the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, to protect Igbo residents from killer herdsmen disguising as military officers in the state.

Kanu, who disclosed this in a statement signed by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, commended the ESN operatives for capturing the notorious bandit.

He said Isa and his gang had been attacking peaceful communities in Benue and its environs, adding that his arrest would send a warning signal to other criminal herdsmen.

The statement read:

“I want to commend men and women of the Northern Command of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) for the successful capture of Mohammed Isa, the notorious leader of a group of bandits and killers in the Lower Benue.

“This individual and his gang of murderers have been terrorising peaceful farming communities in Benue and nearby states.

“I reiterate my warning to Miyetti Allah and their sympathisers in Aso Rock that our noble quest to rid our land of all manner of criminality will continue unabated until our farmlands and forests are safe and secure.”

Entertainment

Newly married woman shot dead in Benue

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Armed men yesterday killed a 20-year-old housewife, Mary Ali, in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. Ali, who hailed from Usha in Agatu Local Government Area of the state, recently completed her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). A witness, who pleaded anonymity, said “Mary was gruesomely murdered this morning while on her way to her shop where she was selling food at Ochito-Gana area of Otukpo”.

The New Telegraph learnt that the lady got married a few weeks ago shortly after her mandatory NYSC programme. The reason for her murder was still unknown at press time. The Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Hon. Adoyi Suleiman, has condemned Ali’s murder, which he described as babarric, unwarranted and uncalled for. Suleiman, who spoke on the phone after a discussion with his Otukpo counterpart, said the matter had since been reported to the police. The chairman said he gave the security men 24 hours to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

He said: “Security of lives and property is our priority. As far as we are at the helm of affairs at the local government level, our administration will not tolerate any form of criminality. The life of every Agatu person, like any other Nigerian, matters.” Suleiman urged the family of the deceased and the good people of Agatu to remain calm as security agencies had been briefed and those behind the act would be arrested and prosecuted.

Politics

Police arrests man for alleged gang-rape of teenager in Benue

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The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one suspect for alleged gang-rape of a teenager in Obi local government area of the state.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday, said the girl was gang-raped on January 24 at Itakpa-Ito in the local government area.

She said the suspect and three others conspired and defiled the girl while on her way back from the river, made videos of the act, and posted same on social media.

Anene said: “She was on her way to visit her sister at Itakpa-Ito and four men intercepted her on the way, dragged her to a room and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her.

They made a video of their act and shared it on social media for public viewing.

“The victim was rushed to the hospital where she received treatment and has been discharged.

“One of the suspects has been arrested by the police and efforts are being made to arrest the other suspects at large.

“The state police command will definitely bring perpetrators of such inhuman acts to book.”

Entertainment

Livestock Guards arrest farmer, son for alleged cattle rustling in Benue

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Benue State Livestock Guards on Friday arrested a farmer, Atsegba Ukua, and his son for rustling six cattle in Gbajimba, Guma local government area of the state.

The Special Adviser on Security to the Governor, Col. Paul Hemba (retd), told journalists on Saturday in Makurdi that the duo were arrested on their way to sell the cattle.

According to him, Ukua told the Livestock Guards that he seized the cattle on his farm because they were destroying his crops and was on his way to sell them to recover his losses.

Hemba added that the government was not satisfied with the farmer’s explanation and he would be treated as a cattle rustler.

He said: “We do not accept his explanation. He is a cattle rustler and will be treated as such. He and his son would be handed over to the police for prosecution.

“This is part of the reason why Governor Samuel Ortom advocated for ranching to end all forms of criminality associated with open grazing.”

He promised that the six cattle would be handed over to the representatives of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) for handing over to the owner.

Politics

Curfew imposed on Benue Community over alleged missing genitals.

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Chairman of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Caleb Aba has imposed a curfew in Daudu community following allegation of missing genitals.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday November 11, Aba said the curfew which began on Tuesday November 10 will be between 8.00pm to 6:00am daily until security situation is improved in the community. 

Recounting how youths had on Monday November 9 invaded the Divisional Police Station in the community and wanted to burn it down over fresh false alarm of missing genitals, the local government chairman said the decision to impose the curfew was taken after the continual youth restiveness in spite of the intervention of community leaders and the State Governor, Samuel Ortom. 

He said; 

“The reason we imposed curfew is that the youths in Daudu community have raised alarm and accused certain persons of removing their genitals; male and female organs.”

“They went ahead to burn down the properties of those they suspected and even killed a pastor of the church whom they accused of being responsible.”

“We talked to them and pleaded with them to allow the law to take its course. Even the governor of the state went there himself to talk to them.”

“But last Monday, the youths mobilized and went to Police station in Daudu threatened to burn it down accusing one other man whom they beat to state of unconsciousness while accusing him of removing someone’s genital organ.”

“So it became too much and it appeared they will cause more destruction if they are allowed to be moving about freely.”

“That calls for the position of curfew in the community, from 8:00pm to 6:00am. It will last as long as they are not ready to rest,

Aba also disclosed that a motorcyclist had been arrested in connection with the Monday threat to burn the police station for raising a false alarm that he picked a passenger who touched him and his genital disappeared.

Lifestyle

Truck crushes two dons, five others in Benue

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Lifeless body found in Makurdi drain

A truck has crushed seven persons to death around Gbatse community in Ushongo Council of Benue State.

The Guardian gathered that the accident, which occurred around 5 p.m. at the weekend, killed two lecturers from the University of Mkar, Gboko, as well as two children and three others.

According to witnesses, the accident occurred when a trailer, whose driver was trying to evade a police check, ran into a stationary Toyota Camry car and crushed the seven occupants.

It took the combined effort of the police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other individuals over five hours to evacuate the bodies trapped in the mangled car under the truck.

The Chairman of Ushongo Council, Asawa Joseph, was said to have cut short his engagement in Makurdi, rushed to the scene and directed that bodies of the victims be deposited at Ostra Gum’s hospital at Ushongo.

From documents recovered from the scene, the two lecturers were identified as Mr. Leva Joshua of the Mass Communication Department and Moses Tarnongo.

Also, a Zenith Bank debit card identified another victim as Adaa I. Blessing.

Sector Commander of FRSC in Benue, Aliyu Baba, confirmed that seven people were killed, one injured and four escaped without physical injury.

Baba, however, blamed the accident on over-speeding on the part of the truck driver.

Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom has condoled with the bereaved families, particularly the management, staff, and students of the University of Mkar.

He described the incident as devastating and urged relevant agencies to investigate it.
IN another development, a lifeless body of a lady was found in a drain at Calabar Street, Makurdi, yesterday about 7 a.m.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident, said the family of the deceased confirmed the corpse to be that of Angbiandoo Gbavaan, who left the house the previous night.

Anene said the corpse had been deposited at Bishop Murray Morgue for autopsy, while the investigation was on to ascertain the cause of her death.

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