NEWS
Thugs Chase Protesting Varsity Students Out of Govt House Makurdi

Attah Ede, Makurdi
Suspected thugs on Wednesday, chased protesting students of the Benue State University College of Health Sciences, Makurdi out of the government house.
Daily Asset gathered that the students had staged a peaceful protest to seek an interface with the Governor Hyacinth Alia to make their demands concerning the poor condition of their school.
The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Bartholomew Nnamdi Onyeka had earlier banned protests in the state following a plan by some unidentified groups or persons, saying such action would sabotage efforts of the police to manage the fragile security situation in the state.
He further explained that a protest at this time will avail hoodlums and other criminal minded persons an opportunity to cause mayhem and warned intending protesters to refrain from such actions as the environment is not conducive for a protest.
The CP further directed Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to tighten up security in their areas of responsibility and resist any efforts of protesters to encourage breech of peace.
However, leader of the protesters and President, Students Union College of Health Science, Benue State University Makurdi, Nelson Iorkaa, said they had peacefully matched to the Government house just to draw the attention of the governor to their challenges including lack of water, dilapidated lecture halls and hostel accommodation among others.
He said while the students were marching to the Government House gate, they were stopped by police on guard, and urged them to send delegates which they refused.
“Yes, we were chased out of government during our peaceful protest not by police but other thugs guarded by the men of the state community volunteer guards and a lot of students have it on record how we were chased by these thugs.
“It was while the police were discussing with us that the thugs in their numbers stormed the government house, carrying sticks and other cane and violently chased us away.
“But we retreated and insisted that we must see the governor himself and table their grievances. Thereafter, some Government functionaries came to address us too, asking us to go back to school, that the governor will come to the school and address us.
“Honestly, the issue of hotel accommodations and the level of infrastructural decay in our school currently causes so many issues for us and that is why we decided to come and draw the attention of the visitor to the University so that something can be done. That is our aim, nothing more.
“It was so disheartening that after we made our presentation and about to leave as directed, they came and attacked us.
But in a swift reaction, a government functionary who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, debunked the allegation, saying the students were not chased out of government.
According to him, the governor’s Chief of Staff and the press secretary to the governor addressed the students and told them to go back to campus, promising that their message would be adequately delivered to the governor.
“Nobody chased the students who staged a peaceful protest to government house Makurdi with intention to see the governor of the state.
“They were received and at the end, the students were asked to sit in a place, which they did, and the Government entertained them with minerals. For the first time in Benue State that government would call out to entertain protesters. We bought them minerals and gave them transport fares back to school”, he said.
Foreign News
CAF Sanctions Kenya Again over Crowd Trouble

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sanctioned African Nations Championship (CHAN) co-host, Kenya, for the second time in as many weeks over security breaches.
In a statement made available on Monday evening, the continental governing body said that it has limited entry to the 48,000-seat Moi International Sports Centre.
It also said that, known as Kasarani Stadium, can accommodate 27,000 fans for Sunday’s Group A match between Kenya and Zambia.
CAF said only electronic ticket holders would be allowed into the stadium, with thermal tickets prohibited.
The governing body warned that Kenya’s matches could be relocated from Kasarani Stadium if organisers fail to prevent further breaches.
“We trust these measures will be applied swiftly to protect competition’s integrity, ensure fan safety, and uphold confidence in Kenya’s commitment to the tournament,” CAF said.
The sanctions follow incidents on Aug. 10 when Kenya defeated two-time winner Morocco 1-0 in spite of playing the entire second half with 10 men.
The win put Kenya top of Group A with seven points.
The debutants would reach the quarterfinals with at least a draw against winless Zambia.
Last week, Kenya’s football federation was fined nearly 20,000 U.S. dollars for security lapses during the team’s 1-0 win over DR Congo in the tournament opener on Aug. 3.
In the latest case, CAF cited major lapses, including stadium gates and restricted service areas being overrun by ticketless spectators and holders of government-distributed physical tickets.
It also accused security personnel of losing control at exit points and allowing breaches of the perimeter fence that enabled thousands of ticketless fans to enter.
CAF had expressed alarm over the use of tear gas and flash grenades, reports of live ammunition fired near spectators and staff, and violent incidents such as stone-throwing at security personnel.
It also cited unsafe vehicle movement in spectator areas, inadequate police response, and the lack of medical incident reports in spite of injuries being reported.
Organisers were further criticised for insufficient communication tools and the absence of CCTV coverage at critical entry points.
Education
Varsity Don Advocates Establishment of National Bureau for Ethnic Relations, Inter-Group Unity

By David Torough, Abuja
A university scholar, Prof. Uji Wilfred of the Department of History and International Studies, Federal University of Lafia, has called on the Federal Government to establish a National Bureau for Ethnic Relations to strengthen inter-group unity and address the deep-seated ethnic tensions in Nigeria, particularly in the North Central region.
Prof.
Wilfred, in a paper drawing from years of research, argued that the six states of the North Central—Kwara, Niger, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa share long-standing historical, cultural, and economic ties that have been eroded by arbitrary state boundaries and ethnic politics.According to him, pre-colonial North Central Nigeria was home to a rich mix of ethnic groups—including Nupe, Gwari, Gbagi, Eggon, Igala, Idoma, Jukun, Alago, Tiv, Birom, Tarok, Angas, among others, who coexisted through indigenous peace mechanisms.
These communities, he noted, were amalgamated by British colonial authorities under the Northern Region, first headquartered in Lokoja before being moved to Kaduna.
He stressed that state creation, which was intended to promote minority inclusion, has in some cases fueled exclusionary politics and ethnic tensions. “It is historically misleading,” Wilfred stated, “to regard certain ethnic nationalities as mere tenant settlers in states where they have deep indigenous roots.”
The don warned that such narratives have been exploited by political elites for land grabbing, ethnic cleansing, and violent conflicts, undermining security in the sub-region.
He likened Nigeria’s ethnic question to America’s historic “race question” and urged the adoption of structures similar to the Freedmen’s Bureau, which addressed racial inequality in post-emancipation America through affirmative action and equitable representation.
Wilfred acknowledged the recent creation of the North Central Development Commission by President Bola Tinubu as a step in the right direction, but said its mandate may not be sufficient to address ethnic relations.
He urged the federal government to either expand the commission’s role or create a dedicated Bureau for Ethnic Relations in all six geo-political zones to foster reconciliation, equality, and sustainable development.
Quoting African-American scholar W.E.B. Du Bois, Prof. Wilfred concluded that the challenge of Nigeria in the 21st century is fundamentally one of ethnic relations, which must be addressed with deliberate policies for unity and integration.
Foreign News
Madonna Urges Pope Leo to Visit Gaza

Pop icon Madonna has made an appeal to Pope Leo XIV, urging him to visit the blockaded Gaza Strip amid a starvation crisis that has sparked international outrage.
“You are the only one of us that cannot be denied entry,” the U.S. singer wrote on social media platform X late on Monday.
“We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children.
“There is no more time,” she added.
Marking the 25th birthday of her son Rocco Ritchie on Monday, Madonna also announced plans to donate to humanitarian organisations working in Gaza.
“I feel the best gift I can give to him as a Mother is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza,” she wrote.
A United Nations (UN) agency said late last week that “acute malnutrition among children in Gaza has reached the highest levels.”
In July alone, nearly 12,000 children lower than five in age were identified as acutely malnourished, with another 2,500 found to suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), this is the most life-threatening form.
Israel controls access roads to Gaza and has sealed off the coastal area.
Very little aid got into Gaza from March through May, when Israel began allowing in deliveries using a controversial private system that bypasses traditional UN agencies.
Under pressure from allies, Israel recently began permitting larger convoys into the territory, as aid airdrops take place overhead.
On Sunday, Irish rock band U2 issued a stinging critique of the Israeli government’s actions.
“We know Hamas are using starvation as a weapon in the war, but now so too is Israel and I feel revulsion for the moral failure,” frontman Bono wrote.