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Category: North Central

  • Rising Incidents of Kidnappings in Abuja: UN Issues Stern Warning

    Rising Incidents of Kidnappings in Abuja: UN Issues Stern Warning

    The United Nations (UN) has sounded the alarm on the escalating wave of kidnappings for ransom in various regions of Nigeria, with a particular focus on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. 

    Expressing deep concern, the UN’s Chief Security Advisor, Phillip Ackatia-Armah, emphasized the need for urgent attention and heightened security measures.

    In an advisory, Ackatia-Armah urged UN staff and their dependents to exercise caution, especially during nighttime movements, as criminals increasingly target individuals perceived as capable of paying ransoms. 

    While UN personnel may not be directly singled out, their vulnerability lies in residing within communities where they may be recognized as potential sources of ransom funds.

    The advisory includes recommendations such as changing daily routes and timings to avoid predictability, keeping emergency contact numbers readily available, and informing others of whereabouts.

    It also provides guidance on interacting with kidnappers, emphasizing the importance of staying calm, subtly signaling for help, and continuously assessing surroundings for potential escape routes.

    The UN’s proactive measures come in response to a notable increase in kidnapping incidents in Abuja in recent weeks. 

    The organization aims to ensure the safety of its personnel by disseminating these guidelines to navigate the current security challenges in the Nigerian capital.

  • Surge of Kidnappings: FCT Minister Summons Emergency Meeting

    Surge of Kidnappings: FCT Minister Summons Emergency Meeting

    In response to the alarming surge in violent crime within the nation’s capital, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has initiated a crucial emergency security meeting.

    Recent incidents involving brazen bandit operations, including the tragic killing of several residents, including a 13-year-old Secondary School Student, have prompted heightened concerns.

    Addressing the gathering, Minister Wike reassured FCT residents about their safety, emphasizing the government’s commitment to providing security forces with necessary resources to combat the rising insecurity.

    The closed-door summit, presently in session, brings together heads of security agencies in the FCT, key officials from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), council chairmen, and traditional rulers.

    Stay tuned for more updates on this developing situation.

  • S’Court reserves judgment on Nasarawa guber appeal

    S’Court reserves judgment on Nasarawa guber appeal

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Tuesday, reserved judgment in the
    Petition seeking to sack the incumbent governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Hon Emmanuel David Ombugadu, is praying the apex court to set aside the November 23 judgment of the Court of Appeal which upheld Sule as the lawfully elected governor.

    The Petitioners, through Kanu Agabi SAN submitted that the October 2, 2023 judgment of the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in favour of PDP and Ombugadu be restored.

    According to him, the Court of Appeal unjustly nullified the Tribunal’s judgment and unjustly declared Sule as winner of the March 18 gubernatorial election.

    Agabi specifically called that the Supreme Court should allow the votes of Nasarawa state people to count and be meaningful be declaring PDP and Ombugadu as winners as rightly done by the Tribunal.

    However, Sule and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and APC, prayed court to dismiss the appeal for want of merit.

    APC lawyers, led by Akin Olujinmi SAN while adopting his brief of arguments asked the apex court to carefully looked into the cited authorities to back up their request for dismissal of the case.

    After taking arguments from lawyers, Justice Kekere-Ekun announced that judgment has been reserved and that the date for its delivery would be communicated to parties involved.

    The Appeal Court had on November 23 last year reversed the sack of Gov Sule by the State Election Petitions Tribunal in its judgment delivered on October 2.

    The Appellate Court held that the Tribunal headed by Ezekiel Ajayi acted in grave error in using witness statements on oath, not front-loaded as required by law to arrive at the unjust conclusion of nullifying the election of the governor.

    In a judgment delivered by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, the Court of Appeal had said the Tribunal was legally bound to act on witness statements filed along with the petition or front-loaded within 21 days stipulated by law.

    The Court held that no petition can lawfully be amended outside the 21 days allowed by law as wrongly done by the Tribunal.

    “Since the statements used by the Tribunal to sack the Governor were not front-loaded in compliance with the law, the statements were a product of illegality with no probate value for a law Court to act upon”.

    The Court also dismissed the over-voting issues used to annul the election, adding that the allegations were not established by law.

    Justice Onyemenam held that the petition by the Governorship candidate of the PDP was a nullity and invalid on the grounds that the jurisdictional issues raised by the governor were unlawfully ignored by the Tribunal.

    The Court of Appeal ruled that the Tribunal denied the Governor a fair hearing by not considering and making findings on the issues of jurisdiction raised at the hearing of the petition.

    Justice Onyemenam agreed that the denial of a fair hearing against the governor was fatal and tendered all decisions of the Tribunal invalid.

    In all, the Court of Appeal reversed all orders made against the governor and INEC and affirmed Sule as the lawfully elected governor of the state.

    INEC had declared Sule the winner of the governorship election on the grounds that he polled a total of 347,209 votes to defeat his closest opponent David Emmanuel Ombugadu who secured 283,016 votes.

  • Benue Highway Plagued by Armed Men

    Benue Highway Plagued by Armed Men

    Villagers along the expansive Federal Highway traversing Okpokwu and Ogbadibo Local Government Areas in Benue state are sounding the alarm as armed herdsmen capitalise on the deplorable state of the road and adjoining forests to wreck havoc on motorists, commuters, and other way farers.

    Expressing profound distress, locals revealed that these marauders have claimed these forests as their stronghold, openly launching attacks and abductions on commuters navigating the Otukpo-Ugbokolo-Otukpa-Orokam route without encountering any resistance.

    Speaking under anonymity, a member of the Orokam community and a practicing journalist disclosed that, “The marauders, largely composed of Fulani herdsmen, operate with impunity. The Ugbokolo to Otukpa corridor, notably the dense Okungaga forest, serves as their nerve center.”

    Detailing the harrowing experiences of kidnapping victims, he elaborated, “These criminals are equipped with sophisticated arms. They forcibly trek captives for hours through the forests, concealing them in various parts of Idoma land, including Ado LGA and Otukpa in Ogbadibo LGA, while negotiating ransom for their release.”

    He also said that, “Traveling on the Otukpo-Ugbokolo-Otukpa-Orokam highway is now highly perilous, especially after nightfall. However, the security agencies’ response has been inadequate, failing to decisively tackle this threat.”

    Moreover, the journalist underscored the limitations of local vigilantes and the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards in confronting the armed herdsmen, citing their possession of automatic weapons, making direct confrontation an incredibly risky endeavor.

    Expanding on their tactics, he stated, “Under the cover of night, they don military attire, setting up faux security checkpoints to ambush and seize unsuspecting travelers.”

    Owukpa, an area straddling Benue and Enugu states with vast forests, has also fallen prey to these armed groups, fostering an atmosphere of fear and helplessness among the populace.

    Recently, HRH Chief Emmanuel Odeh, the traditional ruler of Ogbadibo LGA, decried the dire security situation, expressing concerns over the overwhelming presence of armed herdsmen in the expansive forests. He lamented the absence of security forces, leaving communities vulnerable to attacks within the extensive forest cover.

    Despite attempts to reach the Benue Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Catherine Anene, for comment on the armed herdsmen issue, no response has been obtained.

    The persistent control of these forests by armed herdsmen continues to escalate fear and insecurity among residents, necessitating urgent and strategic interventions to restore safety along these critical highways in Benue state.

  • Bye-Election: Governor Alia Suspends Party’s Primary In Benue

    Bye-Election: Governor Alia Suspends Party’s Primary In Benue

    Controversy has surrounded the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Benue State.

    Governor Hyacinth Alia suspended the event, which was meant to select a candidate for the February 4 by-election for the State House of Assembly.

    The need for the by-election arose after Dr. Yamar Ortese, representing the Guma 1 state constituency, was appointed as Commissioner for Health and Human Services.

    During a press conference in Makurdi on Saturday, Governor Alia claimed the primary was disrupted by threats and hijacked by individuals who were not from the Guma Local Government Area and should not have participated in the election.

    The APC’s state spokesperson, Morgan Ihomun, countered that the governor cannot suspend a process that the party already conducted in an orderly manner.

    Governor Alia, accompanied by state security chiefs, also mentioned that the primary was planned for Saturday but was overshadowed by threats from irate youths.

    The governor said, “Security of state remains paramount to us. Today (Saturday), the APC is to conduct primary but it was marred by misconduct and this posed insecurity in Guma. It became imperative to calm the irate youth.

    “Party stakeholders felt disenchanted. I would not want any semblance of insecurity in the state. I suspend the delegate primary. Sad enough the party faithful came out but were stopped at the gate by people who do not belong to the local government; all stakeholders were locked out and youths became angry. Party faithful must help keep the peace in the state.

    “I do not want any bloodshed as people get sensational and sentimental about politics. I have asked the security operatives to ensure that there is no break down of law and order. I know that the national working committee of our party will do all to ensure that the right thing is done.”

    Meanwhile, Morgan insisted that the primary election had been held and a candidate emerged to fly the party ticket during the forthcoming by-election.

    He said, “The question we should be asking is that, does the governor have the power to suspend the primary election?”

  • Idoma Traditional council pegs traditional marriage rites at N50k, bans expensive burials

    Idoma Traditional council pegs traditional marriage rites at N50k, bans expensive burials

    ….Removes stringent marriage conditions, bars expensive

    The Idoma Area Traditional Council (IATC) in Benue State, led by Och’Idoma Elaigwu Odogbo, has introduced significant reforms affecting traditional marriage rites and burial practices within Idomaland.

    All traditional marriage rites in Idomaland have been fixed at a maximum of N50,000 by the Council.

    The decision was made during a meeting held in Otukpo, the traditional headquarters of the Idoma-speaking people.

    The council set the maximum traditional marriage rites at N50,000. This decision aims to remove stringent conditions and expectations associated with traditional marriages, promoting greater accessibility.

    Moreover, the council has discontinued the practice of returning the corpse of an Idoma daughter from her husband’s home to her paternal home for burial, except in cases of multiple marriages. Expensive burial rites have been banned, emphasizing conduct of burials within affordable means and concluding them within two to three weeks from the date of death.

    The resolutions also address inheritance rights, abolishing the practice where relatives deny the deceased’s children and wives their inheritance rights. The guidelines prioritize the deceased’s wife or wives and children for inheritance, unless a written will states otherwise.

    Additionally, the indiscriminate burial of corpses within communities, especially in residential areas, has been prohibited. Villages and hamlets are mandated to designate burial grounds by the end of 2024, aiming to regulate burials and seek permission from the Traditional Ruler for burials within or around compounds.

    These sweeping reforms aim to eliminate self-imposed cultural practices deemed barbaric and harsh, seeking greater cultural inclusivity and practicality in traditions within the Idoma community.

  • Kidnappers Demand N50 Million Ransom for Release of Nasarawa LG Chairman

    Kidnappers have demanded a whooping N50 million for the safe release of the chairman of Akwanga Local Government Council in Nasarawa, Alhaji Safiyanu Isah Andaha.

    Isah was abducted alongside his associate, Adamu Umar Tanko on Monday night.

    Confirmation of the abduction came from Haruna Kassimu, the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to the Nasarawa State Governor, who acknowledged the distressing situation.

    According to a family source, negotiations between the family and the abductors are underway, shrouded in anonymity for safety concerns, as the state police command are intensifying efforts to secure their release.

    The Nasarawa State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police Umar Nadada, has swiftly mobilized personnel for a potential rescue operation. 

    DSP Ramhan Nansel, the Police Public Relations Officer, stressed the collaborative efforts between the police and other security agencies in tracking down the kidnappers.

    Nansel implored the public, particularly residents of surrounding villages, to provide credible information that could aid in the safe recovery of the victims and the swift arrest of the perpetrators.

  • 103 die as boat capsizes in Kwara

    103 die as boat capsizes in Kwara

    Police Command in Kwara has confirmed that 103 persons died in a boat accident at Egbu village, in the Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara.

    The Spokesperson of the Command, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident on Tuesday.

    The deceased reportedly met their end after the boat conveying them while returning from a marriage ceremony capsized.

    The tragic incident has cast an ominous cloud of sorrow and despair on the village.

    Okasanmi said the names of the survivors would be published soon.

    The Transition Implementation Committee Chairman, Patigi, Alhaji Mohammed Liman, put the number of passengers that died in the accident at 110.

    Liman, while quoting from a statement by one Alhassan Bala Mohammed, a community leader in the area, said, “About 110 people died in the boat mishap in our area.

    “We’re going to tell you about the tragedy and unforgettable memory that occurred to my people from our village and other neighbouring villages close to us.

    “Our village people went to a wedding ceremony in another village called Gboti and the boat carried about 270 people, and almost 110 people were lost.”

    “This is an unforgettable memory and tragedy in the history of our village,” he said. 

  • Subsidy: Gov AbdulRazaq approves bus palliatives for students, workers

    Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the deployment of government buses to support the movement of students and workers in public tertiary institutions within Ilorin and its environs.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, on Sunday in Ilorin.

    The statement read the bus palliative for the students covering the metropolis is the second phase in the measures by the Kwara government to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.

    “The government had earlier reduced workdays for civil servants from five to three every week, while bureaucrats work out other measures for workers that are exempted from the policy.

    “From Wednesday, June 14, some large buses will be deployed to transport students of public tertiary institutions within the metropolis, including those going to the Kwara State University campus at Malete.

    “Further details will be released by the coordinating Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs).

    “The state government will continue to offer immediate support for the Kwara public as Nigeria permanently transitions to the post-fuel subsidy regime and different steps are taken to bring more ease to the people while growing the economy in a sustainable way,” he said.

  • FCTA reclaims over 500 plots in Katampe District

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has reclaimed over 500 plots of land at Gishiri in Katampe District from individuals who claimed to be owners of the lands.

    Mr Hassan Ogbole, the Deputy Director, Monitoring and Inspection, FCT Department of Development Control, said this at the continuation of a clean up exercise in Gishiri on Friday.

    He said the illegal structures and other activities in the area affected the Abuja Master Plan and must be dismantled to restore sanity.

    “This is our third time visiting Gishiri in continuation of the city clean up to restore the Abuja master plan.

    “We are concerned with recovering plots taken over illegally by some persons for different purposes, to restore the Abuja master plan.

    Ogbole called on the genuine owners of the plots to commence work immediately to stop the return of illegal structures.

    “Individuals that are allottees of the plots should take them over immediately to avoid new illegal developments, let the owners come in and start developing,” he said.

    On his part, Mr Bello Kaka, the Deputy Director, Monitoring and Enforcement, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), said the board was supporting the demolition to sustain mopping of unauthorised activities.

    “Anything that is contrary to the standard would not be allowed, as we will keep the fight against environmental nuisances till the right thing is done,” he said.

    “Mr Peter Olumiji, the Secretary, Command and Control, FCTA Department of Security, said the administration is concerned with having a secured environment for all FCT residents.

    “Allowing illegal structures to remain will continue to provide ground for criminals to exist; we can’t leave such structures that will become safe haven for bad eggs.

    “We had such experience in Gishiri in the past, so removing these illegal structures will make criminals not to have a place to hide and carry out their evil activities, especially in the night,” Olumiji added.