From Attah Ede Makurdi

Benue State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has called on those discrediting the youths of the state by calling them thugs, to immediately apologize and desist from such.The governor made the call at Government House Makurdi, when different youth groups came out in their numbers to welcome him back from an official trip to the United States of America, Friday.

Addressing the groups, the governor said it was unfair of anyone to tag the hardworking young people of the state as thugs, insisting that such derogatory terms give the entire state a bad name, saying the administration places relevance on everybody in the state and will take it up to those trying to paint the state and it’s people bad. “Any comment that does not go well with the image of the state and its very honourable individuals, this administration will take it up to you. When you see young people supporting this administration or working hard for the growth and development of Benue State, do not call the youths thugs. Whoever must have called the youths of the state thugs, first of all, I will like that person or those persons to withdraw that public statement.“The youths of the state have suffered in the past so much that they are now gaining traction on sanity and development, and I wouldn’t want anyone to pocket them and have them stigmatized. If you don’t understand who a thug is, just shut up. Benue youths are thriving and are quite concerned about what happens here in the state and I will like everybody to honour them and to respect them.” While thanking the youths for standing firm, and for always supporting his administration, the governor informed them that he was away in the United States of America to look for ways that will enable his administration chart a new course for Benue, especially as the state was disconnected from the International stage, particularly in the last 8years.“Benue State was no longer on the International radar, and with the new Sherriff in town, we needed the whole world to know that Benue State is here; Benue State is the real deal and Benue State is the home for development. And with the way we have charted it now, Benue state is going to be a place where a number of states will be coming to enquire about what is happening here so that they take it back to their various states.”He said Benue was amongst the 19 Northern states that were invited to USA by the United States Peace Institute in collaboration with establishments here in Nigeria, to rub minds and chart a way forward on the insecurity challenge the Northern states are wrestling with, and to see how peace can return to those states.According to the governor, the meetings were successful and his administration will apply the solutions proffered to see how the security challenge can be curbed down in the state.He urged the people of the state to cooperate with the security agencies, charging the youth not to allow themselves to be used by anybody for their selfish interest and to also shun vices such as cultism, yahoo, kidnapping, as according to him, such have no place in the State. He cautioned those making divisive statements to desist, saying his administration considers peace as paramount and as such, will not allow anyone irrespective of status to disrupt peace in the state, especially as his administration understands what peace can do for the state. “This is why I cannot accept anyone, whether you are a former governor, or whether you are a civil servant serving currently, or whether you are doing your business somewhere in Benue, or you are trying to engage on your farm somewhere. “If you are a former governor, concentrate on where you are. If you don’t have anything positive to contribute to Benue, shut up. Because you did you part, your terms came and it is over, therefore you must give peace a chance. You must allow this administration to carry out what we promised the people that we were going to carry out. “It is very imperative to me that if you are in the state, know exactly what you are saying. Criticisms are welcome for me and my administration but check your facts. If you serve your term and it is over, you cannot sit in some corner and destabilize this administration. It is not acceptable,’ the governor stated.On youth employment, the governor said that already, some establishments such as the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) have started employing, and it will be a continuous process with many other establishments to follow. On the allegations by Comrade Festus Usifo, the President of Trade Union Congress (TUC) that Benue and several other states have not made the welfare of their workers a priority, the governor urged Usifo to cross check his facts before going public, insisting that his administration has not deviated from it’s commitment with the workers. He pleaded with filling station owners in the state to make PMS available to buyers, and not to cause artificial scarcity.In their separate remarks, the groups promised to continue to support the Alia led administration, especially as the governor has started laying a firm foundation to take the state to enviable heights.

The Police Command in Rivers says four people and over 70 vehicles were burnt in Friday’s fuel tanker explosion in the state.

The explosion occurred along Eleme section of the East-West Road in the state at about 7:30 p.m.

SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesman of command, told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Saturday that the tragedy occurred following a collision between a heavy-duty truck and a petrol-laden tanker.

A correspondent who visited the accident scene reports that there were seveal burnt vehicles and charred bodies of victims on the road.

The incident happened a few meters from the Indorama Petrochemical Company and roughly 10 kilometres from the Port Harcourt Refinery.

There was an extensive gridlock stretching over five kilometres on the road under reconstruction as part of the N200 billion Ring Road project by the Rivers Government.

State government trucks, accompanied by police and Federal Road  Safety Commission officials, were seen evacuating the burnt vehicles to facilitate traffic flow.

An eyewitness, Onyeka Ubani, who narrowly escaped the explosion, told newsmen that while transporting passengers on his newly acquired tricycle (Keke), they heard a deafening sound ahead of them.

“The loud sound was followed by a massive fireball, causing everyone to flee for safety.

“We managed to escape, but unfortunately, my Keke caught fire in the process.

“I thank God for my life, but I am at a loss about what to do with my life now, having recently purchased this Keke,” a distraught Ubani said.

Another eyewitness, David Jumbo, said that he was returning home from work around the Akpajo axis of the East-west Road when the incident occurred.

He narrated that after the explosion, vehicles and victims were caught by fire which stretched over 200 metres.

“It happened so quickly that it could be likened to scenes from Hollywood movies.

“While I was fleeing for safety, I saw a pregnant woman struggling to exit one of the commercial vehicles.

“Unfortunately, when I returned this morning, I found the deceased pregnant woman trapped in the bus as she tried to escape,” he recounted.

Jumbo attributed the accident to the recklessness of truck drivers who disregarded road warnings despite the ongoing road construction.

Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, who visited the accident scene, described it as tragic and sad.

He urged motorists to always exercise caution while on the road.

“This incident is not a pleasant one, we recorded a huge number of vehicles destroyed and lives lost.

“I have already asked the relevant agencies to brief us on how we can support the bereaved families to mitigate their losses.

“This incident would have been avoided if the motorists had adhered to proper conduct. People should ply this road with caution,” Fubara said. (NAN)

Partial electricity supply has been restored to Gombe after the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) effected some repairs on its four transmission towers vandalised on Monday.

Spokesman of the Jos Electricity Distribution Plc., Dr Adakole Elijah stated on Saturday that it had started to receive supply from Bauchi State after TCN effected repairs on its vandalised 330kv Jos-Gombe transmission towers.

He assured that efforts were on-going to ensure quick return to full supply.

“We wish to inform our esteemed customers in Gombe State and some parts of Bauchi State that the current load-shedding occasioned by the vandalism would soon be over.

“ Jos Electricity Distribution Plc.

is allocated 10mw by the TCN for its customers in Gombe and Ashaka Cement Plant, hence the load-shedding’’ he explained.

Elijah assured also that as soon as the TCN concluded the reconstruction of the vandalised towers, full supply would be restored.

TCN’s spokesman, Mr Ndidi Mbah, had stated on Tuesday that the four towers were vandalised and some of its parts carted away resulting into a system’s collapse. (NAN)