From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Benue State chapter, has appealed to traditional rulers in Otukpo and Ohimini local government areas to immediately liaise with the state government and other critical stakeholders to establish a joint traditional security committee.

Chairman of the association in the state , Ardo Mohammed Risku who made the appeal at a press conference in Makurdi at the weekend said that the committee would be able to expose the criminal elements in zone c area of the state. He suggested that the committee should accommodate conventional security agencies, traditional rulers and Miyietti members, adding that when, constituted, would assist the conventional security personnel curb the on going skirmishes in the Benue South Senatorial District. He lamented that Fulani herders in Idoma kingdom have suffered so much lost in the hands of their host communities resulting to the death of their members, lost of cows and burning down of their shelters due to lack of understanding and cooperation amongst stakeholders.The chairman of Miyietti Allah who is who also the Ardo in zone c, commended governor Hyacinth Alia for his peace effort, saying that Fulani herders have enjoyed relative peace under his administration. “In the beginning of this year, there was a peace agreement signed between Agatu local government council chairman, Agatu stakeholders and Fulanis where it was agreed that we should all live together as one.”Similar peace agreement was signed between the people of Apa local government area, some traditional rulers from Adoka community in Otukpo local government area, where peace committees were setup and since then, relative peace between Fulanis and the farmers are being witnessed.”What is happening now in zone c for the past few days where Fulanis are being accused of kidnapping is worrisome. Therefore, I am begging the traditional rulers of Otukpo and that of Ohimini local government areas to immediately constitute a joint traditional security committee so that, where there is kidnapping syndicate anywhere we will be able to trace and arrest them.”We are worry that Fulanis are not getting the needed support from our host communities in zone c to enable us fight crime. Some of our host communities are chasing us away from their areas after we committed no offence.”Only recently, youth in Otukpo Icho community in Otukpo local government area, demanded that all Fulanis should vacate their community. I view such action as uncalled for and unnecessary, hence we are one Nigeria and I have no capacity to ask any individual to leave a particular place”, Risku said.He appealed to Benue State government to give listening ears to the plights of Fulani herders in the state, saying that just this month of April, no fewer than 8 herders have been killed, with five cows killed and eight others badly injured.The Ardo however accused the chairman of Otukpo local government area of frustrating the herders and farmers peace move in his area, saying that the chairman has vehemently refused to see him or answer calls.But the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Maxwell Ogiri dismissed the allegation, saying that it was not true that he is frustrating Fulani herders and farmers peace agreement in his domain.Ogiri however, accused the chairman of Miyietti Allah of the brain behind all the kidnapping and other criminality in zone c.”Even though I do not know the personality you are talking about, I have never met with him. Am an open leader that every body have access to. I don’t move with security or rectinue of aides that can blockage people from have accessing me.”So, whatever he said that they made attempt to meet with me wasn’t true. But however, there is one I thought he is the leader of Fulani in zone whom they called Ardo, I have his number and I have made attempts to called him on occasions and I couldn’t get him until they told me he resides not in Otukpo Local Government but somewhere in Ohimini.”Now, if we must put things in the right perspective, a lots of people including fulanis that have become victims of these skirmishes, have accused that Ardo of the brain behind the issues of insecurity in Otukpo Local Government Area and Idoma in general. A lots of hands points towards him.”However, I have directed the DSS as at that time that they should create an opportunity between him and I to see how we can talk. Let us see what is their grievances and for taking arms against communities that have given them the opportunity to graze their cows and have a good livelihoods.”They should know that this state is still under the ban on open grazing, the law is still in force and if you want to do anything otherwise against the law, it should be an understanding between the community and probably the government. And am not sure that anything of such has ever happened between the community and the government that there is a relax of that law.”So, I don’t know where he is coming from, because as a leader of Fulanis, all the attacks that have been happening in recent times, kidnappings, armed robberies have the faces of Fulanis. Iam ashamed that he is out to even try to defend them. “Am ashamed that he can even publicly defend his people that they are the face the evils that are against the society. I have quarrel a lots of people who believe that they should do negotiation or understanding with Fulani herdsmen and I have told them rightly that you cannot discuss with illegality.” All we need to happen in Idoma land and also in Benue State at large, is the enforcement of the law against open grazing. With that, we can have the peace that is needed in the land”, Ogiri said

By David Torough, Abuja

The Oloja Olumade Royal Family has issued a strong warning to the public against the activities of land grabbers and individuals involved in unauthorized sales of family land located in Imédu Kingdom, under the Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Epe Local Government, Lagos State.

In a public notice signed by Pa.

Kadiru Adebola Olumade, Olori Ebi of the Oloja Olumade Royal Family and Prince Tajudeen Kazeem Olumade, the General Secretary, the family declared that no agent or representative has been authorized to sell, lease or allocate any portion of the family land.

They described the unauthorized sales as illegal and aimed at defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.

The family emphasized that all transactions regarding Oloja Olumade Royal Family properties should be conducted through officially recognized stakeholders, whose names and contact details were listed in the notice.

The Royal Family assured the public that it remains committed to serving the interests of all Nigerians and reiterated its readiness to protect its land and heritage from fraudulent activities.

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division have apprehended 43  suspected oil thieves during a coordinated raid on illegal artisanal refineries across Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.

Spokesman for the division, Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, disclosed this to journalists in Port Harcourt on Sunday, noting that 14 artisanal refineries were also dismantled during the operations.

Danjuma also revealed that troops seized 14 boats and confiscated about 254,000 litres of various stolen petroleum products between March 31 and April 6.

Providing details of the operations, he explained that soldiers in Delta raided the Old Ogorode community in the Sapele area, where they recovered 90,000 litres of petroleum products loaded into a bus.

“Furthermore, troops confiscated 74,107 drums filled with 16,600 litres of petroleum products and 1,600 litres of illegally refined engine oil.

“Other items recovered include a tank filled with over 20,000 litres of stolen products, an empty tank  with a capacity of 5,000 litres, eight pumping machines, two generators.

“Two suspects were arrested at the crime scene,” he stated.

In a separate operation in Amukpe, Sapele, Danjuma said that soldiers intercepted a truck carrying 56 drums containing 13,400 litres of stolen crude oil.

He confirmed the arrest of three suspects connected to the incident.

“In Rivers, troops dismantled illegal sites, seized about 83,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 3,200 litres of illegally refined petroleum products in Andoni, Ahoada West, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Akuku-Toru, and Degema Local Government Areas.

“The petroleum products were found stored in more than 80 cooking pots and ovens, as well as in sacks, metal receivers, iron pipes, and a reservoir pit,” Danjuma stated.

In Bayelsa, the army spokesman reported the seizure of 13,500 litres of stolen crude following the destruction of four illegal refineries in Yenagoa and Ekeremor LGAs.

During the raids, Danjuma revealed that troops also dismantled over nine cooking drums and receivers, 11 ovens, four drums, and a dug-out reservoir.

According to him, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, commended the troops for their successful operations and urged stakeholders to support the fight against illegal oil bunkering.

“The GOC assured Nigerians that these ongoing operations form part of broader efforts to boost oil and gas production and enhance the nation’s economy,” he concluded. (NAN)