NEWS
Plateau: 32 Peace Mediation Groups Condemn Christmas Eve Attacks
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
A coalition of 32 indigenous peace mediation groups in Plateau State has condemned the Christmas Eve gorilla attacks in some parts of Plateau State that left many people dead, maimed, and others with varying degrees of injuries.
Recall that the calculated attacks on some communities in Mangu, Bokkos, and Barkin Ladi local government areas of Plateau State left several people, including women and children, dead in cold blood.
Reacting to the cowardly act that occurred at a time when Christians all over the world are celebrating Christmas, the group of peace-building organizations operating under the aegis of Coalition of Plateau State Peace Builders Forum expressed sadness that the peace recently achieved in the state Government and security agencies, especially Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) has been jeopardized.
The group, which described the renewed calculated and brutal attacks as barbaric, senseless, and without justification in any form, tasked the federal government and the security agencies not to let the killers escape, insisting that “those who committed this evil must be fished out, arrested, and brought to face justice.”
The coalition, however, commended the OPSH Commander and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, and his team for their swift response and professional intervention, which it said did not only quelled the situation but stopped it from escalation.
The coalition of indigenous peace advocacy groups, in a statement signed by Amb. Melvin Ejeh, Executive Director, Global Peace and Life Rescue Initiative (GOPRI); Dr. Peter Bot, National Coordinator, Community Action for Peace Initiative and Engr. Obadiah Muchen,
The coordinator of the Action Against Violence Initiative passed a vote of confidence on the OPSH Commander and his team for their commitment to their assigned duties.
The coalition flayed allegation of connivance leveled against the internal security outfit and its Commander, noting that contrary to the assertion, OPSH and its Commander have done well in not only securing the lives and property of people but also on a mission to restore permanent peace in the state.
The groups noted that before the renewed attacks on some communities, there was a total restoration of peace by security agencies, notably Operation Safe Haven.
The coalition advised those always in the habit of criticizing security agencies for channeling the same energies into supporting them and providing intelligence information.
The Coalition, which said it has since carried out an in-depth investigation of the crisis in the area, exonerated the internal military outfit and its Commander, telling rather than being blamed, that they deserve accolades for standing up to their professional callings, which they noted, were primarily responsible for the level of peace and tranquility the people of the state were enjoying before the renewed attacks.
It said:'”As peace-building non-governmental organizations that have traversed the nooks and crannies of Plateau State to enthrone lasting peace in the state, we are saddened by the renewed attacks on some communities in Mangu, Bokkos, and Barkin Ladi local government areas, which left several people including women and children dead in cold blood at a time Christians all over the world are celebrating Christmas.
“We condemn these callous, brutal, unwarranted, and senseless attacks in the strongest terms possible. We are saddened by this kind of heartlessness and barbarism displayed by some suspected criminal herdsmen, who take delight in perpetually making Plateau State ungovernable at a time when Governor Caleb Mutfwang and critical security stakeholders, notably Operations Safe Haven, the military outfit, saddled with the internal security of the state have worked so hard to restore peace to the once troubled state. This madness is talking too far, and we must come together to stop it at once. “
The coalition, while noting that without the tireless commitment of the GOC and his team to their mandate, the state would have been in a very terrible state of crisis, said: “We want to, without any equivocation, pass a solid and unbiased vote of confidence on the General Officer Commanding GOC/Commander Operations Safe Haven, Major General AB Abubarkar and his men for their commitment to ending the circle of violence in Plateau.
“This was demonstrated by him and his men’s swift response to all the trouble areas within minutes of the attacks. Their prompt reaction led to minimal casualties and damage that the killer herders intended.
“While we must acknowledge that at a time like this, emotions will be high, people will play politics, and crisis merchants will take advantage of this, we, however, appeal to Nigerians to be patient and patriotic in their reactions, especially to our security agencies.
Instead, they should proffer possible solutions to end this circle of violence in a Plateau State.
“We are speaking as organizations that have visited the locality and have a good knowledge of the place.”
The coalition, which explained that while it was not trying to provide an excuse for Operation Safe Haven or other security agencies for the attacks, it noted that “the facts are that the terrains are not easily assessed with vehicles.”
“While not holding brief for Operation Safe Haven, as indigenous peace-building groups in the state, we will not sit and watch innocent persons be roped into the unfortunate situation in the state,” it said.
The coalition said: “We know that most terrains in the state have poor communication network, bad roads, and high ground, which make it impossible for even any Army in the world to do magic when there is a need for an emergency response to the attack.”
“With available information at our disposal, we wish to say that due to the lack of workforce in the country, troops cannot be stationed in every village. It is not practical.
“Most of the roads are unaccessible to vehicles; this practically makes it impossible for troops to respond with the speed expected of them,” it explained.
The statement further read: “We wish to state here that this smear campaign against the Commander and OPSH is calculated to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the person of the GOC 3 Division and Commander Operation Safe Haven, who is a fine officer and a tested professionally, well known to have bravely and gallantly fought in defense of our country, both locally and internationally without blemish.”
“We must, therefore, give him the necessary cooperation and support him to succeed and not resort to a cheap campaign of calumny.
“The desperation of these blackmailers shows that they have some sponsors somewhere. We, therefore, urge them to stop this madness immediately
“Security agencies cannot be in every community, and we should not expect the impossible.” The group claimed that “credible evidence from the field when our team visited some of these communities this morning suggested highly planned actions with International assailants among the killers.
“Five eyewitnesses who narrowly escaped death confirmed to our team that the assailants were speaking French and other languages while killing and burning their houses, and they went straight to look for the homes of people from a particular tribe.
“Our findings all revealed that the attacks have some political dimension as the assailants mainly target the houses of persons from a particular tribe where the state governor hails from.
“We wish to commend the officers and men of OPSH for neutralizing some of the bandits, and our hearts go to OPSH over the severe injuries incurred by some soldiers during the counterattack.
“We kindly appeal to those who earn a living from crisis to visit the communities and get first-hand information rather than quoting alarming figures.”
By David Torough, Abuja
Authorities in the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday honoured renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, Chief Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi, with the unveiling of a street named after him in Asokoro, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the representative of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council’s Department of Street Naming, Mr.
Charles Adikwu, said the honour was in recognition of Onyishi’s remarkable contributions to national development, job creation, and community upliftment.Adikwu described the Peace Mass Transit founder as “a businessman who built his enterprises from scratch to the top,” noting that Onyishi has grown into one of Nigeria’s most influential private-sector employers.
The honouree is the Chairman of Globus Bank, Peace Microfinance Bank, Peace Oil & Gas, Peace Mass Transit, and the Chancellor of Sam Maduka University, Akwegbo, Enugu. According to Adikwu, Onyishi’s businesses have collectively provided employment to over 150,000 Nigerians, making him “one of the highest employers of labour in the country.”
Adikwu added that naming streets after distinguished Nigerians also enhances security and navigation within Abuja communities.
“If anything happens along this route, it can now be easily identified as taking place at No. 7 Sam Maduka Onyishi Street,” he said. “Before now, locating places involved unnecessary descriptions that sometimes complicated emergency responses.”
Also speaking, the Regional Manager of Peace Mass Transit (Northern Region), Mr. Ngwu Jude Chinweike, said the gesture reflects government’s increasing willingness to recognise individuals who positively impact society.
He expressed delight that his principal was among those honoured, describing the development as a morale boost for communities and a reminder that meaningful contributions do not go unnoticed.
“The public will now understand that when you make positive impact in your community, government has a way of recognising your efforts,” he said.
Chinweike noted that the newly named street is already attracting interest from businesses and institutions, including security agencies, and assured that Peace Mass Transit and Onyishi’s other subsidiaries would support efforts to enhance the area’s outlook.
“Since the street bears his name, we will keep our eyes here and contribute to ensuring it looks good,” he added.
Chief Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi, widely regarded for his philanthropy and transformative investment footprint, continues to maintain an active presence in transportation, finance, energy, and education sectors across the country.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
Experts in the health sector, at the weekend agreed that even though foreign grants and aid remain highly valuable, it is imperative for the three tiers of government to increase domestic funding in Nigeria.
They agreed that it is only through the above the nation can build a resilient, domestically financed health system.
This was agreed at the 9th annual health conference organized by the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHeJ) in Abuja.
The theme of this year conference is ‘Domestic Resource Mobilization in the Face of Dwindling Foreign Grants and Aids’ .
Among those who spoke at the occasion, include, Special Adviser to President on Health, Dr.
Salma Ibrahim Anas, .Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Kunle Salako, representative from National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), Dr. Matins Illuyomade,Salako who was represented by his Special Adviser, Dr. Babatunde Akinyemi, said Nigeria has benefited from substantial foreign health assistance, including over $6 billion from PEPFAR, $2.5 billion from the Global Fund, $1.5 billion from the World Bank, $1.2 billion from Gavi, and $1.6 billion from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
He stressed, that government initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), including the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), which has disbursed over N260 billion to states and the Federal Capital Territory since 2018, and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, mandating health insurance for all Nigerians.
He said, “The United States government, through PEPFAR, has invested over $6 billion in Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response since 2004, with annual allocations averaging $400-450 million in recent years. In fiscal year 2023 alone, USAID (Now DoS) allocated approximately $535 million for health programs in Nigeria, covering HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and maternal and child health initiatives.
“The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has disbursed over $2.5 billion to Nigeria since 2003, making us one of the largest recipients globally. The World Bank currently supports our health sector with approximately $1.5 billion through various projects, including the $500 million Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Program and the $820 million International Development Association credit for primary healthcare strengthening. Similarly, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has committed over $1.2 billion to Nigeria since 2001 for immunization programs, while the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has invested approximately $1.6 billion across various health interventions in Nigeria over the past two decades.
“The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), though reducing its overall aid budget, continues to invest significantly in Nigeria’s health system, particularly through the £210 million Health Systems Strengthening program. The European Union and its member states collectively provide approximately €100 million annually for health-related interventions, while the Government of Japan, through JICA, supports our health infrastructure development with grants averaging $30 million annually.
.Multilateral development banks and financial instruments have also remained vital partners; the World Bank in 2024 approved substantial concessional financing, including a major credit and complementary grant financing package that supports health outcomes and health system resilience across states and communities. Such financing is targeted not only at service delivery but at strengthening our ability to prevent, detect, and respond to emergencies”.
Salako noted, “Foreign grants and aid remain highly valuable and will continue to finance critical interventions for some time. But the future we must build is one where domestic resource mobilization, fiscal discipline, efficient spending, and innovative financing are the engines that sustain our national health priorities. The Government of Nigeria is already advancing legal and budgetary instruments, leaning on proven programme data, and working with partners to protect gains while we scale domestic financing.
“Our commitment is to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind during this transition, and that we convert a period of funding volatility into a long-term opportunity to build a resilient, domestically financed health system”.
The Minister of state also enumerated the innovative domestic financing efforts at the state and private sector levels.
“Lagos State allocates over 12% of its budget to health, Kaduna State’s contributory health scheme has enrolled 1.6 million residents, and Abia State has launched a diaspora health investment fund.
“The Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority contributed over N50 billion and $200 million, respectively, to health initiatives,” he said.
Dr. Salma, in her presentation, said, donor fatigue is real, and the inevitable graduation of Nigeria from various aid programs is approaching.
In his welcome address, ANHeJ President, Joseph Kadiri, said the conference theme, “Domestic Resource Mobilisation in the Face of Dwindling Foreign Grants and Aid,” underscores the urgent need to strengthen domestic financing, partnerships, and resilient health institutions.
Kadiri called on journalists to track government commitments, highlight gaps, and amplify the realities faced by Nigerian families.
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to resume and complete the long abandoned Bridge Project in Akenfa Community, a suburb of the state capital city, Yenagoa
The Deputy Governor, Sen.
Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the call while presiding over an enlarged meeting with representatives of the NDDC, community leaders of Akenfa Community and relevant government officials at his office in Government House, Yenagoa, on Thursday.The Deputy Governor has clarified that, although the state government decided to take over some neglected NDDC projects in the state, including the Polaku-Sabagreia Bridge, that of Akenfa was reverted back to the interventionist federal agency after a mutual discussion between the two parties.
Describing the Akenfa link-Bridge project as strategic and critical to pedestrians and vehicular movements in the oil-producing community, Senator Ewhrudjakpo informed that government officially communicated the re-handing over of the project to NDDC in a letter dated 10th March, 2025.
He empathized with the Akenfa community over the delay in the execution of the project, and urged the NDDC to expedite the process of completing it with a view to putting an end to commuting challenges facing the people.
His words: “The project has actually been sent back to the NDDC to handle. But the NDDC seems to be far away from the Akenfa Community. So they find it easier to come to us.
“We believe that the project has gone a long way. What is required to complete it may not be as much as what has gone in there.
“So, we felt that we should hàve this tripartite interaction to let the community know officially that the project is now in the hands of NDDC, and also to let the agency know that our community is agitated considering the long history of that project.”
Responding on behalf of the NDDC, the Bayelsa representative, Senator Deinyabofa Dimaro, said the Commission would review the entire project and have it captured in its 2026 budget for seamless execution.
Senator Dimaro, who promised to properly relate the issue to the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, however, requested relevant documents from the State Government regarding the reversion of the project back to the NDDC.
Representatives of Akenfa Community who spoke at the meeting included, former Chief of Staff Government House, Yenagoa, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, and a one-time paramount ruler of the community, Chief Isiya Albert.
Meanwhile, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has on behalf of the Governor constituted a tripartite contact committee involving the government, the NDDC and the Akenfa community to ensure the resumption and completion of the stalled Akenfa Bridge project.
Members of the committee include the state NDDC representative, Senator Deinyabofa Dimaro; the Commissioner for Special Duties (Central), Mandy Akpallo; and Chief Dikivie Ikiogha.
Others are the Technical Adviser to the Governor on NDDC Matters, Kuro Nyenye; Chief Isiya Albert; Secretary to the Akenfa Community, Wilson Mumeya, the Youth President, Moses Izibekiebo, as well as an engineer to be nominated by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
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