COVER
Invaders Kill 30 in Coordinated Attacks on Two Benue LGAs
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
No fewer than 30 persons have been reported killed, with several others injured and thousands including women and children missing, as suspected armed herders launched coordinated attacks on Azege community in Tombo Council Ward of Logo Local Government Area (LGA) and Adabo village and Tse Gwebe settlement in Utange Council Ward, Shitile in Katsina -Ala LGA of Benue State.
Our correspondent gathered that herdsmen invaded communities in Logo LGA, on Saturday and Sunday, killing 20 people and injuring over 30 others while 10 persons were killed in Katsina-Ala LGA.
It was said that the herders numbering over 300 stormed the affected communities through the neighbouring Nasarawa State on Sunday morning as people were preparing for early morning church service and started shooting sporadically resulting in the death of 30 persons.
The chairman of Logo local council, Mr. Clement Kav, who confirmed the incident told journalists in Makurdi yesterday that the armed herdsmen invaded the Azege community at about 7:00am on Sunday as locals were preparing for church.
The chairman, who spoke on phone said, “Some herdsmen came all the way from Nasarawa State and attacked my people. They attacked the Tombo Council Ward and killed 17 persons and injured 37.”
According to him, the herdsmen are claiming ownership, that Tombo land belongs to them.
He said the governor had mobilized more security to the area and peace had been restored.
“Yes, armed herdsmen – militia terrorists attacked my people. They were numbering over 300, well armed men suspected to be militia from outside Nigeria.
“Probably hired from neighbouring countries because their appearance was slightly different from the Fulanis we have around.
“This invasion was carried out in the morning hours and the invaders were clearly seen by the locals.
“The security operatives on ground were unable to repel them because of their large numbers and the sophisticated weapons they were carrying.
“It was not until the arrival of a military jet that they were subdued… As at this morning, over 20 corpses were discovered while the search for more missing persons is ongoing”, the council chairman narrated.
The chairman of Katsina Ala LGA, Justine Shaku also confirmed the Monday attack in his area.
Shaku who lamented over several attacks in the area said, “Yes, another incident of attack by herder marauders was reported to have taken place this morning the 25th day of November, 2024 at about 20:00 hrs.
“Information is that many of them heavily armed stormed Adabo village and Tse Gwebe settlement in Utange Council Ward, Shitile in Katsina -Ala LGA.
“From reports, they killed many people, the number yet unknown, destroyed valuable properties and looted a lot of household items and left unchallenged.
“Benue State is under severe security threat by herder armed bandits. The level of destruction and scores killed would be forwarded to you in due course, please.”
A resident of Tombo and a community leader in Logo LGA, Chief Joseph Anawa said herdsmen attacked Azege settlement of Tombo Council Ward on Sunday at about 7:00am.
When contacted, the Benue State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene confirmed the Logo attack and said five dead bodies had been recovered.
She stated security personnel were being deployed to the areas to avert further attacks.
By David Torough, Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed plans for a major political coalition involving the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party (LP) to confront what he described as the ‘incompetent and inefficient’ government of President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku made the announcement, while addressing a delegation of stakeholders from the Kogi East Senatorial Zone, led by former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Simon Achuba, in Abuja. He said he was deeply concerned over the country’s worsening security crisis, blaming the Tinubu administration for its lack of political will to address the issue.Atiku recounted his experience as Vice President during the early days of the Boko Haram insurgency, highlighting how decisive leadership under his administration had temporarily quelled the threat.He stated, “How can leaders remain indifferent while their citizens are being killed? Such apathy is the height of irresponsibility for any political leader, anywhere.“I hold our current leadership accountable for the widespread insecurity plaguing our nation. There is a lack of political will.“Let me remind you of when Boko Haram first emerged in 2002, during our time in office. The president summoned me and asked, ‘Mr Vice President, what should we do about this?’ It began in Yobe. I advised him to call the service chiefs and set a clear deadline: if they couldn’t quell the insurgency, they should resign.“The president summoned the service chiefs, I was present, and issued firm orders. Within weeks, the insurgents in Yobe were subdued, and the threat did not resurface until after we left office.”Atiku also criticized the government’s under-policing strategy, suggesting that unemployed graduates be recruited into the police force to address the security manpower deficit.“We are under-policed. There are not enough police officers in this country, while many educated individuals remain unemployed. Why not recruit them into the police force?” he asked.He emphasized the need for a united front against the current administration, stating, “We are forming a coalition, all major political parties, including the APC, the PDP, and the Labour Party, are involved. This is the only way forward to confront such an incompetent and inefficient government. I assure you of my understanding and full support.”Simon Achuba, who led the delegation, echoed Atiku’s concerns, lamenting the rampant violence, kidnappings, and destruction of communities in the North.He accused the federal government of failing in its constitutional duty to ensure peace and security, urging northern leaders to step up and foster unity within the region.“Unfortunately, the government is doing little to alleviate this crisis, and it is their responsibility, sir. It is the government’s duty to ensure peace and order in our communities.“Yet, in a situation where the government fails to take adequate action, I believe, we believe, that northern leadership must step up,” Achuba said, calling for internal healing and brotherhood among northerners.
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has said that Nigeria was long overdue for a national census, adding that the exercise would assist the country in national planning.Akpabio made the remarks while playing host to members and management of the National Population Commission(NPC) who visited him in his office to update him on the preparation for the next Census for the country.
Akpabio told his guests: “I don’t want to call it a national disgrace but can I say it’s a national embarrassment that even Nigerians who go outside to represent us in different fora do not know the number of Nigerians. ”Sometimes you will go to some places and they will say 250 million Nigerians. At another place, they will say you people are over 270 million. Some African countries think we are over 300 million.”If you go to places where they are holding retreat now, they are now shrinking from 250 million to 220 million. I think it’s time to bring that confusion to an end.”Any country that fails to know its population has already started to fail in its planning. You cannot truly plan for the future if you don’t know the number of mouths you want to feed. You do not know the number of children that you want to put in schools. You can’t know the number of classroom blocks you will build.”We must plan. Any country that does not plan for its future has already accepted failure. We will be failing the future generation of Nigerians if we do not begin to plan for the future and start the planning of this Census. This Census is important so that we know how many people we are planning for.”Akpabio assured members of the NPC that the National Assembly would support the Commission to succeed.”It is very important that we support you. The National Assembly will support you to succeed. I have no doubt, with the calibre of men and women that I have seen here, that the task that Mr President has given to you, once the proclamation is done, you will rise to the occasion. And I know that the National Assembly, the Senate in particular, will stand by you all the way,” he said.Earlier, the NPC chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra who led the delegation said the visit was to keep the Senate President abreast of the stage of preparation and seek continued support of the National Assembly for the next Census.”We cannot conduct this Census without your support. So we will continue to count on your support and we want to make Nigerians proud by conducting a very thorough Census that will yield a lot of data that will assist in planning policy formulation and tracking our development,” Kwarra said.
By David Torough, Abuja
Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido has called on President Bola Tinubu to show courage by closing the chapter of June 12 once and for all.According to him, the payment of the N45 billion debt owed to the family of the late presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, would serve as a symbolic and moral closure to the June 12 struggle and Abiola’s unjust treatment following the annulment of the election, widely believed to have been won by the late business mogul.
The former Minister of Foreign Affairs made the call while delivering his closing remarks at the launch of his autobiography, “Being True to Myself,” held yesterday in Abuja.“When (General) Murtala (Muhammed) died, Abiola came in with a claim that he was owed, I think, about N45bn for contracts executed by International Telephone and Telecommunication for the Ministry of Communications. The military high command at that time said no.“He went around the Emirs in the North to lobby, and the Emirs asked that they (the military) should please pay the money. They (the military) said they annulled the June 12 elections because if they made him President, he would take his money, and the country would become bankrupt. Those who were close to Abacha should know this because Abacha was then one of the big shots; they were all aware.”“Before I end my remarks, I want to appeal to President Tinubu to finally close the chapter of June 12. In his book, General Ibrahim Babangida acknowledged that Abiola won the election. When I visited him, he also confirmed that Abiola is owed N45 billion. He was doubly punished: first, denied the presidency; second, denied what is owed to him.”Lamido urged the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris Malagi, who represented President Tinubu at the event, to deliver the message to the President.“Please tell the President to pay the Abiola family the N45 billion. Once this is done, the June 12 chapter will be closed. It is very important,” he stated.
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