COVER
One Week Military Operations Render .9m Persons Homeless
…400,000 in Benue, Akwa Ibom 500,000
…Boko Haram Sack 5, 000 in Adamawa
By Gom Mirian, Abuja, Vincent Makurdi and Christopher Tom, Uyo
Over 900,000 Nigerian children, aged women and men of Benue and Akwa Ibom state extractions are currently homeless and taking refuge in nearby communities as the military continued airstrike to ride the affected areas of bandits.
An estimated number of 400, 000 and 500,000 were displaced from Benue and Akwa Ibom states, respectively.
DAILY ASSET investigations showed that the bombardment at Bonta – Mbator community in Konshisha local government area of Benue State and Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom state, had led to thousands of residents abandoning their homes to nearby communities.
Reports stated that the twin incidents occurred as a result of attacks and killing of some soldiers and other security personnel deployed to ensure peace and security in the states.
Several people were reported killed and others fled their homes for safety during ground operation and an aerial bombardment by Nigerian troops on Bonta – Mbator community in
Konshisha local government area of Benue State and Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom state.
According to reports, the duo incidents occurred in retaliation of the attack and death of some soldiers and other security personnel deployed in the areas to ensure peace and security who were alleged to have been killed by the community members in the said areas.
Daily Asset gathered that the palace of the third class traditional rulers overseeing the affected area, Chief Unaha Koko and the residence of a prominent politician, Chief Mathias Ibyuan among other houses were razed down by the rampaging soldiers.
It was also gathered that the second largest town in the local government, Gungur and Agidi the home town of Chief Unaha Koko was also seized by the military.
According to some of the displaced persons, who fled their homes for safety, told DAILY ASSET on phone that as the horrific revenge continued for the third day at the weekend, there was no alternative than seek refuge somewhere.
Briefing newsmen at the weekend, Benue state Governor Samuel Ortom, said he had appealed to the Nigerian Army to cease fire in order to spare the lives of other innocent law-abiding indigents of Konshisha local government area and its environs.
He stated that out of the weapons allegedly seized from the military by youths of Bonta, three had been recovered while he had directed the Local Government Chairman, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to see that the remaining arms were recovered and the bandits who were reported to be on the run but identified by Konshisha authorities would be provided to face justice.
Governor Ortom confirmed that eight people, including militia members were killed during the military operation and appealed to those fuelling the crisis in the media to desist from the act and support the government to find lasting peace in the area
In Akwa Ibom state, no fewer than 500,000 persons from 12 communities in Essien Udim local government area have been displaced during last week raid by soldiers.
Essien Udim Local Government Chairman, Hon Anthony Luke said that nefarious activities of hoodlums led to the military strike and the displacement of people from their homes.
“By their criminal activities such as extortion, intimidation, robbery, and general abuse of the fundamental human rights of the people, the situation degenerated to a point that people were living in fear. “
“Yesterday, a combined team of Military and other Security Agencies in the State conducted a clearance operation at Ntak Ikot Akpan to flush out the miscreants who have been perpetrating havoc in the Local Government Area. The operation, which deployed both land and aerial onslaught on the hoodlums and the hideouts by the security personnel, was very successful as the criminals were dislodged”, Luke said.
He listed the affected communities under the military raid to include Ntak Ikot Akpan, Ukana Uwa, Ikot Udo Ekpat and Ikot Otu.
Others are Ikot Afangna, Nto Nsek, Ikot Abia, Ikot Ankan, Ikot Ukpong Etor, Ikot Ada Utor, Nsasak as well as Ikot Akpan Essiet.
Luke explained that the displaced persons from these villages are camped at St Ann Cathedral, Ikot Ekpene, Civic Centre Atan, Ikot Okoro and St Brigid Parish, Urua Akpan.
The local government area is the home of Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, where the military had been combing for sometimes now to ride-off criminal elements.
However, the Defence Headquarters in a statement denied the alleged massacre of civilians in Konshisha local government area of Benue State by troops of Operation whirl stroke operating in the area.
The Acting Director Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the bodies of soldiers killed on Konshisha by bandits were burnt beyond recognition even as it warned that the military establishment would not condone the jungle justice meted out on soldiers on national duty.
“The attention of the Defence Headquarters is drawn to numerous publications in the media and other online blogs reporting massive killing and destruction of houses and other property by the military in Konshisha LGA of Benue State.
” The Defence Headquarters which has oversight responsibility for Operation WHIRL STROKE deployed to maintain peace in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States, has deemed it necessary to refute these spurious allegations and put the records straight”, he said.
The Acting DDI, while explaining the cause to the killing, said “there have been incessant cases of communal clashes in recent times between the people of Konshisha and Oju over boundary demarcation. As part of efforts to resolve the crisis, the Benue State Government held series of meetings with stakeholders from both local governments with a view to arriving at amicable solution to the problem.
“Trouble however started on the eve of the final meeting during Easter holiday, with reports that fresh fighting has broken out in the area.
” All along, 72 Special Forces Battalion has troops deployed on the Oju side of the boundary and troops of the Battalion were on their way to replenish their colleagues on 5 April 2021, when they were attacked by armed bandits at Bonta in Konshisha.
“The troops who were under command of a Captain were seized at a checkpoint mounted by the so called “Bonta Boys” and taken into Konshisha forest where they were all brutally murdered.
” Not satisfied with killing the soldiers, the bandits proceeded to burn all the eleven soldiers and their officers beyond recognition while their weapons and ammunition were carted away”, he explained.
Nwachukwu said the military reinforcements were dispatched to Bonta the following morning, which also came under attack from close to 500 armed youths who by this time had fully occupied Bonta.
However, Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima had in a statement said apart from the 10 armed bandits killed by its troops no other civilian was killed by the military in Konshisha.
The Military High Command further challenged anybody from Konshisha to present to the public the 200, 70 or 30 dead bodies of innocent persons, male, female or children killed by troops in Konshisha.
“Unprovoked attack on troops on stabilization operations in Benue State’ said troops comprising one officer and ten soldiers were initially declared missing which prompted the deployment of a joint search and rescue team comprising Nigerian Army troops and personnel of Operation Whirl StrokeW, he said.
According to him, the search and rescue team unfortunately found all the missing troops dead in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.
He said while the bodies of the slain troops were evacuated immediately, efforts are ongoing to track down the perpetrators of this heinous crime with a view to bringing them to Justice.
“The Nigerian Army under the leadership of the COAS Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru remains resolute in ensuring stability in Benue State as well as other parts of the country that are affected by the activities of criminal gangs.
” The Nigerian Army remains determined to ensure that this unprovoked attack does not disrupt the general peace being enjoyed by the local inhabitants.
” The COAS has therefore directed commanders on the ground to ensure sustained efforts in order to fish out and deal decisively with these bad elements who are threatening the peace in the area.
” It may be recalled that Benue State which was a hot bed for violent clashes has been enjoying relative peace following the successes achieved by the various security agencies who have been working tirelessly to safeguard law abiding citizens and ensure they go about their legitimate business without fear of harassment by criminals.
“The Nigerian Army appeal to the public to volunteer useful information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of this dastardly act”, Yerima said.
Boko Haram Sack 5, 000 in Adamawa
The Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency has said that no fewer than 5,000 persons have been displaced after some groups suspected to be Boko Haram members attacked a community in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa on Friday.
Executive secretary of the agency, Dr Mohammed Sulaiman, announced this in Yola yesterday, noting that the displacement affected many other neighbouring communities in the area.
He recalled that the insurgents came in nine vehicles on Friday to attack Kwapre village in Dugwaba District of Hong Local Government Area.
He also said that the insurgents surrounded the village and killed seven people, including three children.
“During the attack, 50 houses, worship centres, markets and schools were burnt.
“Many people, including women, girls and men, were kidnapped by the attackers.
“However, we received a report that eight persons among the kidnapped victims escaped.
“The displaced during the attack and are taking refuge in nearby villages,” he said.
The District Head of Dugwaba, Mr Simon Yakubu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola that the attackers invaded the village at about 1 p.m. and started shooting.
“During the attack that lasted for more than two hours, more than 20 persons are injured and no fewer than 20 persons are kidnapped by the attackers.
“Places of worship, schools, shops food stores and village head house were destroyed,” Yakubu said.
He said that the injured had been receiving treatment at Hong General Hospital, while two persons who were critically injured by gunshot had been referred to Federal Medical Centre, Yola.
According to him, many villages in Dugwaba district, including Kwapre are few kilometres away from Sambisa forest where insurgents use for attacks.
He also recalled that in 2014, Kwapre village was attacked and destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents.
When contacted, Mr. James Pukuma, Chairman, Hong Local Government Area, said that normalcy has returned to the area as security and local security groups had been deployed to protect lives and property.
He called on the people of the area to be vigilant and report any suspicious move to the nearest security agency for quick response.
DSP Sulaiman Nguroje, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Adamawa, confirmed the attack.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
As part of efforts to reposition the newspaper for optimum corporate performance, the management of Asset Newspapers Limited, Publishers of DAILY ASSET, has announced the appointment of David Torough as the Editor of the Abuja-based national daily.
A statement by the management said the appointments were part of the company’s new strategy to further penetrate the various states in the country and raise its readership and patronage.
“DAILY ASSET is widely acceptable across the country and to maintain our leadership position, we need to increase management presence, hence the need to create new Bureau offices in some locations outside Abuja and Lagos,” the statement quoted the Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief, Dr Cletus Akwaya to have said.
In a statement yesterday, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the fast-growing daily, Dr. Cletus Akwaya said the appointment was part of the new strategy to properly situate the paper for better productivity.
“DAILY ASSET has a commitment with the Nigerian people. We are determined to weather the storm and give Nigerian readers a Newspaper that satisfies their yearnings and reading pleasure and we can only do that with the right set of professionals,” the statement said.
Akwaya, a former Commissioner of Information from Benue State said the difficult times being faced by Nigerians posed a great challenge to the media as the people deserved credible information with which to make choices.
“We have a bond with the people, to offer credible information at all times in the best tradition of the Nigerian Press and on this scale of objectivity, truth and fairness, we pledge to remain steadfast no matter the challenges,” Akwaya was quoted to have said.
He said the newspaper will maiantin its daily print run and circulation to all states of the federation and urged advertisers to take advantage of the deep penetration of the Daily Asset brand to send their messages.
Torough, the new Editor has had a steady rise in the Newspaper in the last five years.
A graduate of Mass communication of the Benue State University, Makurdi, Torough joined the company in 2022 as Benue State Correspondent. He was spotted for his brilliance and redeployed to Abuja the following year and promoted to Deputy News Editor. He was subswuently named Deputy Editor of the paper, a position he held until the recent appointment.
Torough has attended several journalistic workshops and trainings to properly equip himself for the task ahead.
The statement also said the Management named Eze Okechukwu as Deputy Editor.
Before his elevation as Deputy Editor, Eze has been Deputy Politics Editor and DAILY ASSET Newspaper correspondent covering the Senate, having joined the organization in 2021.
Born on March 10, 1975, Eze holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Eze began his journalism career with Daily Star, Enugu and later worked with Daily Trust Newspaper, Abuja as sports reporter.
Aside from his journalistic excellence, he has a great deal of passion for sports.
From Ngutor Dekera, Kaduna and Aliyu Askira, Kano
Northern governors and traditional rulers yesterday called for the suspension of mining activities across the region for six months, blaming illegal mining for worsening insecurity in many states.The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
The meeting, chaired by the Gombe State Governor and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, had in attendance the 19 northern governors and chairmen of the 19 states’ traditional councils. The Forum expressed concern over the escalating violence in parts of the North, including the killings and abductions recently recorded in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué said, noting that the attacks on schoolchildren and other citizens had become “unacceptable tragedies” that required urgent collective action.It commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions and insurgency threats, especially the rescue of some abducted pupils.The governors also saluted security agencies for their sacrifices on the frontlines.“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the Forum stated.A major highlight of the meeting was the North’s renewed push for the establishment of state police, with governors and traditional rulers insisting that decentralised policing had become inevitable.“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué added, urging federal and state lawmakers from the region to “expedite action for its actualisation.”On illegal mining, the governors said criminal mining networks were fuelling violence and providing resources for armed groups.As a corrective measure, they asked Tinubu to direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to impose a six-month suspension of mining activities in order to allow for a full audit and revalidation of licences.“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria. “We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining,” it said.To strengthen the fight against insecurity, the governors also announced the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund.Under the proposed arrangement, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1bn monthly, to be deducted at source under an agreed framework.They said the fund would help provide sustainable financing for joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions and coordinated security responses across the region.At the end of the meeting, the Forum reaffirmed its commitment to unity and collective responsibility.“Only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us,” it declared.The Forum agreed to reconvene on a date to be announced.Meanwhile, Nigeria’s worsening security crisis took a grim turn on Monday as bandits launched fresh attacks in Kano State, abducting 25 villagers, even as the Federal Government raced to secure the release of more than 300 Catholic school children kidnapped in Niger State.In the early hours of Monday, armed bandits invaded Unguwar Tsamiya—popularly called Dabawa—in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, whisking away nine men and two women after shooting into the air and assaulting residents. The attackers also rustled two cows.A resident lamented the community’s helplessness: “We cannot do otherwise; most of us cannot leave because we have nowhere to go. This is our place, our land and everything is here.”The assault came less than 24 hours after a similar attack on Yan Kamaye in Tsanyawa LGA, a community along the volatile Katsina border.In Niger State, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has assured distraught families of St. Mary’s Co-Education School, Kontagora that the more than 300 students and staff abducted on November 21 will return home “soon.” Ribadu, who led a high-level federal delegation to the school on Monday, said the abductees are safe, though he offered no specifics on their location or the status of rescue operations.According to Daniel Atori, spokesman for the Catholic bishop overseeing the school, the NSA reassured officials: “The children are where they are and will come back safely.”The St. Mary’s attack is part of a worrying resurgence of mass kidnappings reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. Security analysts warn that banditry has evolved into a “structured, profit-seeking industry,” with hundreds of Nigerians abducted in November alone.The Kontagora school abduction occurred the same week 25 girls were kidnapped in Kebbi State—victims who authorities say have since been rescued through “non-kinetic” means. About 50 of the St. Mary’s hostages have also managed to escape.Ribadu’s delegation, which included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing the freedom of all abducted citizens.As communities from Kano to Niger continue to bear the brunt of these violent incursions, the escalating spate of kidnappings underscores the urgent national demand for a more decisive and coordinated security response.
By David Torough, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, will face a team of interrogators at its office daily throughout December.A credible source in the EFCC said on Monday that the daily appearance was part of an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of an alleged 490 million dollars Abacha loot secured through a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT) request.
The source said that Malami, who was summoned for interrogation by the EFCC on Saturday, was barred from leaving Nigeria for the next one month.According to the source, one of the conditions for his release on Saturday was that he should report daily to the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja for further interrogation.The source said Malami would have to appear daily at the anti-graft office due to the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him.”We seized his passport, it is the normal routine during investigation, but he has to report at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja every day for the next month.”He will be reporting for further investigation throughout December.”He will be reporting every day, starting from Dec. 1st to Dec. 31st.He will appear before the team of investigators for the entire month of December.”He will be reporting to EFCC for investigation for the period because of the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him,” the source added.According to the source, a fact sheet on the former minister revealed that Malami had several issues to clarify with the EFCC within the coming weeks.“We have asked him to explain the whereabouts of the $490 million Abacha loot secured through MLAT.“We didn’t say he stole money, but he should account for the loot. This is one of the issues he will clarify to our investigators.”The commission cited the large volume of documents he must review and the need for extensive interviews as reasons for seizing his passport.The source said EFCC would not engage in a war of words but would release its findings after a thorough investigation.Malami, in a statement by his media aide, Mohammed Doka, on Monday in Abuja, however, described the EFCC investigation as a political witch‑hunt.He confirmed he honored an EFCC invitation on Nov. 28, describing the engagement as fruitful and expressing confidence that the probe would vindicate him.Malami described the EFCC’s allegations as baseless, illogical and devoid of substance, insisting they collapse under factual scrutiny.
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