NEWS
Land Dispute Leaves Traditional Ruler, 2 others Dead In Benue
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
A land dispute between Amla Community in Otukpo and Okete Community in Ohimini Local Government Areas of Benue State, has claimed the life of a traditional ruler identified as Chief Sunday Okpe, while five other persons have been injured.
Late Chief Sunday Okpe, a clan head in Okete Community was reportedly slaughtered along side, with two other people by the Amla militias who also burnt down 17 houses and ten motorcycles on Friday and Saturday, May 2024.
It was gathered that the dispute which has lasted for over three years, came to climax last Friday and Saturday leaving three persons dead from both communities while property worth millions of naira also destroyed.
The dispute had left several persons injured who are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals in Otukpo and many houses reportedly burnt down beyond repairs.
Speaking to newsmen on phone in Makurdi, the Caretaker Chairman of Otukpo, Mr Alfred Omakwu, confirmed the incident and simply said “The problem was that the Okete people lost it.”
He explained that “They, Okete people, used to farm in Amla land and sometimes last year, 2023, when we wanted to do layout to develop the place, the Okete people went to report to the Och’Idoma that their farm products was there and so the Och’Idoma told them no layout would be done until they harvest their products.
“February this year they went and harvested their products and the Och’Idoma told them that in March, the Otukpo people can go ahead with their layout. That none of them should farm there again.
“So when the bulldozers were brought back to the place, they again said that they have already farmed on the land and that it is affecting their farm products.”
He said the Okete people reported to their second class chief who also confirmed from the Och’Idoma that their people have been told not to farm there again.
“So when they were doing the layout on Friday, they went to their lawyer and when he called me, I told him the people were asked not to farm there again but if they want to go to court, it’s their right.
“They said they would stop the bulldozers from working and the lawyer told them he would have to get an injunction from the court and they said they can’t wait.
“Then they went to the First Class Chief of Otukpo/Ohimini, who called the Och’Idoma and he still said they should not stop the people doing the layout that he asked them not to farm there again.
“Then they went there and opened fire on the people. They killed one, shot two people and burnt all their motorbikes, about 10 of them.
“So the Otukpo people retaliated the next day, burnt some houses, killed two persons,” Omakwu said.
But the Caretaker Chairman of Ohimini LGA, Mr Samson Okoh, accused the Otukpo Chairman of taken bulldozers to destroyed farm crops of his people.
Giving account of the incident from his side, Mr. Okoh said the land in dispute is in a place called Amla, close to Okete.
According to him, “the Otukpo Chairman took bulldozers to the place where the Okete people happened to be farming for years to open a layout and then bulldozed all the farm crops belonging to his people.
“When the Okete people approached them and asked why they are doing that, the Amla people said the land does not belong to the Okete people but to them Amla people.
“So when the argument ensued according to what I was told, somehow one of them from Otukpo pulled the trigger but mistakenly the bullet entered the Otukpo person rather.
“Then on Saturday night the Amla people reinforced and barricaded the Okete people burnt houses beat up one boy and in the day time around 10 to 11am when I went to take the boy they killed to the mortuary, the Alma people went to the place and burnt 17 houses, burnt motorcycles, slaughtered a chief, a clan head Sunday Okpe, and injured five persons. we have taken them to the teaching hospital in Otukpo for treatment.”
Okoh lamented that Okete community is completely deserted as the people have ran to take refuge at Ojayi community pending when peace is restored.
He further stated that he was not aware that the Och’Idoma asked his people not to farm there again “I am not aware of that but the Otukpo Chairman claim so. I was not told by the Och’Idoma to tell my people not to farm there.
“The Och’Idoma cannot tell people to stop farming where they have been farming for years without compensation, without settlement and you just take the bulldozer and bulldoze people’s crops.
“Automatically you’re killing those people and this people have nothing else that they do apart from farming.
“I am writing to the government to restore peace to enable my people to go home and continue their normal business. If the government can do this I’ll be very happy,” Okoh said.
Meanwhile Otukpo Chairman who noted that calm has been restored in his area said after a peace with the state Commissioner of Police, CP Hassan Yabanet in Makurdi on Monday, they have been asked to fish out those who perpetrated the act to ensure they are brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.
“Yesterday the Commissioner summoned all of us from both parties for a peace meeting. We have agreed that all the culprits will be brought to book. We will arrest all those who went to start the attack and those who did the reprisal because we asked them not to attack since the people who went to shoot are known, they would be handed over to the police so that it can serve as deterrent to other people who will take laws into their hands,” Omakwu said.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident. She said “I don’t have details but the incident was confirmed to me and one person died at the time I called.”
NEWS
Plateau PDP Cautions Members Against Obtaining Nomination Forms From Pro-Wike Faction
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
As Nigerians await the verdict of the Supreme Court on the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Plateau State chapter of the party has caution it’s members against obtaining primary election nomination from the faction loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
In an advisory obtained by the Daily Asset Newspaper, the Plateau PDP declared that loyalists of the FCT Minister parading as leaders of the party have already been expelled and their expulsion validated by the High Court and Court of Appeal.
In the advisory issued by Dr Choji Felix Dalyop, State Publicity Secretary, the chapter maintained that any nomination forms issued or signed by Senator Anyanwu or under the authority of Abdulrahman Mohammed lack legal standing.
Part of the statement reads: “Our great party under the strategic leadership of Miskoom Raymond Dabo, hereby issues a formal advisory grounded in extant judicial pronouncements regarding the purported sale of nomination forms for the 2027, general elections led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, with Senator Samuel Anyanwu acting as National Secretary.
“Pursuant to binding judicial determinations, this advisory is issued, including:- The judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on 9th March, 2026, and the judgment of the FCT High Court delivered on 12th January, 2026, both of which affirm the suspension and subsequent expulsion of Senator Samuel Anyanwu from the Peoples Democratic Party.
“From a legal standpoint, these rulings have two critical implications: Loss of Capacity: Senator Anyanwu, having been validly expelled, lacks the legal competence to act in any official capacity on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“Derivative Invalidity: All actions predicated on his authority, including the recognition of Abdulrahman Mohammed as Acting National Chairman, and the constitution of a parallel National Working Committee, are legally defective.
“Consequently, the Abuja Convention of 29th March, 2026, convened under this disputed authority, is rendered void ab initio, as it derives from an invalid institutional foundation.
“Furthermore, the issuance of a Form 48 notice by the FCT High Court underscores ongoing judicial scrutiny, and reinforces the binding nature of earlier rulings, particularly regarding compliance by affected parties.
“The principle of law remains unequivocal: No valid structure can emerge from an invalid origin.
“Therefore, any nomination forms issued or signed by Senator Anyanwu or under the authority of Abdulrahman Mohammed lack legal standing.
“Implications for Aspirants: Non recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC);
“Exposure to pre election litigation leading to disqualification;
“Post election nullification risks analogous to established judicial precedents.
“The PDP Plateau State, chapter strongly advises all aspirants, and stakeholders to exercise due diligence, and avoid engagement with any processes that are unstable with the vision, and mission of the founding fathers of our great party, which to a great extent are fundamentally inconsistent with the law.”
End
NEWS
Soludo’s 16.4km Road Project Ends Years of Suffering, Opens Up Anambra Communities
By Laide Akinboade Abuja
Vice President of Boardwalk Group and Abuja-based real estate developer Chief Obiageli Okwubanego, on Wednesday, commended the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, for completing the 16.4-kilometre Nawfija–Ajali–Ufuma–Ogbunka Road in Orumba South Local Government Area.
Sh gave the commendation while speaking with journalists in Abuja.
She said residents in that area testified that the project has transformed transportation, agriculture and economic activities across the axis.
Okwubanego described the road project as a major infrastructure breakthrough that has drastically reduced travel time and eased movement for motorists and residents within the affected communities.
She recalled that the appeal for the road was first made in 2019 when Soludo attended the funeral mass of her mother, Chief Mrs. Agnes Igwenagu Okeke.
According to her, the deplorable state of the road at the time made movement extremely difficult for mourners and guests attending the burial ceremony.
“When Professor Soludo later declared interest in contesting for governor, I went back to my people and urged them to support him with the assurance that the road would be done. I also appealed to him to extend the road project to Ogbunka, my mother’s hometown,” she said.
She noted that the newly completed road has reduced travel time by about two hours and now serves as an alternative route to the traffic-prone Umunze Roundabout.
Travellers heading towards Umuaku in Abia State, as well as Okigwe and Ndi-Iziogu areas of Imo State, now use the route to avoid traffic congestion.
“For Christmas, Easter, August meetings, marriages and other celebrations, people can now travel home with ease and in large numbers,” she stated.
Okwubanego described the project as part of Soludo’s broader infrastructure and economic transformation agenda across Anambra State.
According to her, the road has enhanced the movement of goods and services within the communities and improved economic activities in the area.
“Governor Soludo’s solution agenda has positively impacted our communities and brought remarkable transformation to the entire Orumba South Local Government Area,” she said.
She further noted that residents of Nawfija community had never experienced a tarred road before the intervention of the Soludo administration.
“Since I started visiting Nawfija community years ago, the residents had never enjoyed a tarred road. Soludo, through compassionate and selfless leadership, has now provided the people with their first properly constructed road,” she added.
Highlighting the economic importance of the project, Okwubanego said the road has significantly boosted agricultural activities in the area, especially palm oil production.
She explained that the adjoining communities are predominantly farming settlements responsible for a substantial share of palm oil production in Orumba South Local Government Area.
“The famous Onuoigbo palm plantation, which spans over 20 hectares, is located along this road corridor in Nawfija, and the improved road network will greatly support the movement of farm produce,” she explained.
On tourism potential, she said the road would also increase access to the popular Ozi Stream, known for fishing and irrigation activities, thereby attracting more visitors and commercial activities.
“With easier access to the famous Ozi Stream, human and business activities in the area will rise significantly,” she noted.
Okwubanego also reaffirmed her emotional attachment to Nawfija community, saying her passion for the people inspired her continuous commitment to their welfare and development.
“My dear Nawfija community means so much to me, which is why I personally pleaded with His Excellency to give us this road. My passion for the community will always push me to look out for their welfare,” she said.
NEWS
Ekiti Church Attack: CAN Demands Action Over Killing, Abduction of Worshippers
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednesday, condemned
the attack on a church gathering in Eda Oniyo Ekiti, where gunmen reportedly killed a Pastor and abducted several worshippers during an open-air crusade.
This was stated in a statement issued by
President, CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in Abuja.
The Christian body demanded for immediate arrest and prosecution of the culprits and rescue of those kidnapped.
He described this latest attack as a brutal assault on shared humanity and the sanctity of life.
And it is deeply disturbing and unacceptable.
He mourned with the family of the slain Pastor and stand in full solidarity with the victims and the entire Christian community in Ekiti State
The statement reads, “We condemn this heinous act in the strongest possible terms.
People had gathered peacefully to worship God, and they were met with violence. This is not just an attack on a church; it is a brutal assault on our shared humanity and the sanctity of life.“We mourn with the family of the slain Pastor and stand in full solidarity with the victims and the entire Christian community in Ekiti State. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been taken, and we call for their immediate and safe release.
“This latest tragedy comes amid a disturbing pattern of attacks. Only recently, gunmen struck communities in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting residents including clergy, their families, and other community members. These repeated incidents underscore a deepening security crisis that can no longer be ignored.
“This attack further heightens concerns about the safety of lives and the protection of communities. No one should have to live in fear, and no place of worship must ever become a hunting ground for criminals.
“We must be unequivocal: the protection of lives and property is the primary responsibility of government. We call on the authorities and security agencies to act swiftly, decisively, and transparently. Those responsible for this atrocity must be apprehended and brought to justice without delay. Every necessary effort must be made to rescue those abducted unharmed.
“We also urge the government to immediately strengthen security presence, especially in vulnerable and rural communities, and to deploy proactive intelligence measures to prevent further attacks”.
He noted, “At the same time, we must all speak out firmly. The killing of a Pastor and the abduction of worshippers gathered to commune with their Creator is deeply troubling. It reflects a grave disregard for life, for faith, and for the moral fabric of our society.
“We have a duty to communicate these concerns clearly, firmly, and without equivocation to the appropriate authorities. Nigeria must not normalise the killing of worshippers or the abduction of innocent citizens in places of refuge.
“May God comfort the bereaved, protect those in captivity, and restore peace and security to our land”.

