The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has inaugurated an Artificial Intelligent (AI) research and integration team to advance weather forecasting innovation.

NiMet’s Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, said the move was part of the Agency’s drive to strengthen innovation, digital transformation, and service delivery in meteorological and climate services.

According to him, the inauguration underscores NiMet’s commitment to complement decades of physics-based forecasting with emerging AI-driven approaches.

This, he said, was in line with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda and the ongoing modernisation of meteorological services in Nigeria.

“The newly constituted technical team is tasked with identifying opportunities, standards, and best practices for the application of artificial intelligence in meteorology, and with driving the integration of AI-based tools into NiMet’s operational forecasting systems.

“The initiative is expected to enhance the speed, accuracy, and accessibility of weather predictions through hybrid AI–traditional forecasting models,” NiMet’s DG said.

According to him, building internal AI capacity is critical to sustaining NiMet’s leadership in technological innovation among government agencies.

He said that emerging technologies were responsibly deployed to support aviation safety, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, and national development.

”Members of the AI Research and Integration Team were drawn from across the Agency’s units, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to innovation.

“The inauguration marks another milestone in NiMet’s ongoing efforts to leverage digital technologies and research-driven solutions to deliver world-class meteorological services in Nigeria.” he said.

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

Suspected armed herders have killed five persons, including the house of assembly candidate for Otukpo-Akpa state constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, Igbabe Ochi and four others.

The victims were killed in another attack on Otobi community, in Otukpo local government area of Benue State.

This is just as the State government confirmed that suspected Fulani kidnappers believed to be in search of food for their victims attacked a provision shop at otobi Akpa community around 1.

A statement by the Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Internal Security Chief Joseph Har said four persons were killed at the shop, pointing out they looted the shop and moved into the nearby forest when the locals responded.

He said, “The police and the Civil Protection Guards were immediately deployed to the community to prevent further attack. Those killed were identified to be Hon Ochi Ugbabe, Achibi Onah, Eje Eba and Sunday Iruja. Four persons were kidnapped recently and were yet to be released.

But according to residents who pleaded anonymity, the attack which happened at about 1.30am on Tuesday morning, followed Sunday’s night kidnapping attempt at Ekwu-Ora’Odaba in Otobi but was foiled by the community volunteers guards commander, Ocheme Jackson and his team, prompting a high security alert in the community.

The local sources said that, the community has been singled out by suspected herdsmen for attacks, following the killing of 13 persons on the 15th of April 2025 and another attack that claimed three more lives in May 2025

“Following Sunday’s Kidnap attempt, community volunteers guard members with the support of youths in the area, kept patrol and surveillance team across the community up until 12.00am pm Tuesday morning before retiring to rest”

The sources further notes that,  ” When the surveillance team from the railway crossing into Ijami part of Otobi pulled back to rest, at about 1.30am, the gunmen suspected to be herdsmen, stormed the community and started shooting,  killing Five persons in the process and looted foodstuff and other valuables “.

When contacted, the President, Otobi community development association, John Anyebe said, the attackers came through the railway station bridge from Ijami part of Otobi and headed to where the victims were sitting not far from the transformer junction

“Yes, the attack is carried out by suspected herdsmen who have been terrorizing our community, they shot one person close to the water board before heading to where Igbabe Ochi and four others were seated and opened fire on them, looting the stores around for food and other valuables”.

Anyebe lamented the killing of his people first on April 15th, 2025 where thirteen persons were killed, two weeks after three other persons were killed at Omebe axis of Otobi Community

“We can confirm that an incident occurred earlier today at Otobi-Akpa. Tragically, four individuals have lost their lives.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the family and loved ones affected by this incident.

“Investigation is in progress, and efforts are being made to arrest the perpetrators to face justice”, the Police Public Relations Officer DSP Edet Udeme stated.

The lawmaker representing Otukpo-Akpa state constituency, Kennedy Angbo lamented over the persistent attacks on his constituency,  noting that, on Sunday traveller’s on a Benue links bus were attacked at Burnt bricks Otukpo where three persons were hospitalized from the incident

“You can imagine that five of my constituents have been killed again at Otobi community of Akpa district, barely a year after the killing of thirteen persons on April 15th 2025”.

“On Sunday at about 7.00pm, around Burnt bricks Otukpo, these gunmen opened fire on traveller’s, injuring three persons and it was just God that protected them from any fatality, so I am calling on the security agencies to do more on intelligence gathering and counter operations to flush out these terrorists from our surroundings, he appealed passionately”.

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

Policemen in Benue State have arrested 41 suspects in connection with the alleged slaughter homes operating in Makurdi, the State capital.

The command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Udeme Edet who confirmed this development on Tuesday in Makurdi while responding to the alleged slaughter homes located at Awe Street in Wurukum, Makurdi, said the alleged slaughter homes have been trending on social media for a while in the state.

The testimony of an unidentified person who claimed to have been abducted on December, 25 while returning from a Church programme along International market in the state capital had trended on social media.

According to him, he boarded a motorcycle at about 8:30 pm the fateful day and only to be taken to Awe Street.

He added that in a manner that suggested he was hypnotized by the motorcyclist, he was pushed into a room where he met about 10 girls

“So, I followed them into a house the place was a dreadful place, I knew in my spirit that there was a power or demonic presence operating in that place, when I became reluctant to enter, one of the boys pushed me in, as we entered, they took me into a room where there were other young girls (about 10 of them).

“One was a stack naked crying, so I asked what was happening, how they got here, then I moved to the girl crying without her clothes on, I asked why she was naked. She said she was brought there at about 5.30am, that she was traveling to Ilorin, Kwara State, and she needed to be at the park before 6.00am.

“So she boarded a motorcycle on their way the bike man pleaded with her, that she should give him a little time to pick a parcel for waybill, she obliged and that was how she found herself there, that she offered to give them #1million, for them to spare her life but they refused,” the unidentified person narrated.

Another unidentified person wrote how his daughter was being lured to the dreaded street by a motorcyclist known as Okada rider but quickly gave an excuse to alight from the motorcycle.

The PPRO in her response to the allegations on social media said, “I’m aware of this, and the same has been forwarded for action.

“A raid of black spots was organised at Awes Street, Wurukum and Wadata where 41 suspects were arrested for screening.