COVER
Front Page Comment: The Attack on Gov Ortom
Only few incidents have attracted the level of outrage and condemnation of a wide section of Nigerians like the recent attack by a criminal group on the Benue State Governor, Dr Samuel Ortom.
On the fateful Saturday, March 20, a band of deadly herdsmen numbering up to 15 attempted to kill the Benue state governor, while he was undertaking one of his passions apart from governance, farming.
Gov. Ortom was attacked by the militia herdsmen precisely at his private farm at Tyo –Mu on the Makurdi –Gboko Road on the fateful Saturday. Nigerians have been voicing their condemnation of the attack virtually in unison against the dastardly act.President Muhammadu Buhari showed leadership as he reacted hours after the incident to condemn the attack. He also directed the police and other security agencies to move into Benue to ensure the perpetrators were apprehended and other sundry criminals rooted out of the state.
The ruling- All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned the attack on the governor, while also tasking the nation’s security agencies to unravel the criminals behind the attack.
John James Akpan Udoedehe, Secretary of the APC Caretaker Committee who condemned the attack in a statement he signed in Abuja also canvassed for multi sectoral collaboration to end the rising cases of criminalities in the country. The Secretary equally expressed thanks to God for sparing the life of the Benue State governor, while commending the governor’s security details for repelling the attack. “We are confident our security services will do everything to unravel the criminals behind the attack and bring them to book,’’ he added.
Equally outraged at the attack on Ortom, was the main opposition-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which said Nigerians should hold the All Progressives Congress-led administration responsible should any harm befall the Benue State governor.
The party gave the charge while condemning the attack on the governor. In a statement, the party demanded the arrest and prosecution of the Assailants. “The PDP vehemently condemns Saturday’s(March 20)| reckless attack and the assassination attempt on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State by suspected bandits, reported to be killer herdsmen.The party calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to put machinery in motion by ordering an immediate manhunt, arrest and prosecution of the assailants and beef up security around the governor.
“Our party is worried that this brazen attempt at Governor Ortom’s life is coming on the heels of his outspokenness in exposing those allegedly behind the incessant attacks of communities in the state and demanding that the Federal Government live up to its responsibility on the protection of life and property in the state, PDP said in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan.
Similarly, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike condemned the attack on Ortom’s convoy, saying Nigeria could plunge into another civil war if his Benue State counterpart was assassinated. Wike also said the Buhari regime would be held responsible if Ortom was killed. “If you kill Ortom, then be prepared to bury Nigeria. If anything happens to Governor Ortom, the Federal Government will be held responsible and they should be prepared for it,” Wike said in a widely circulated statement.
Earlier, the Nigeria Governors Forum[ NGF] while acknowledging the quick response of the Inspector General of Police in deploying a crack team of detectives to investigate the attack on Ortom, noted with concern that the Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) had already claimed responsibility for the assassination attempt and should be arrested and questioned. In its condemnation of the attack the Nigeria Governors said, , the move to make Benue State ungovernable was unacceptable and would fail woefully. NGF in a statement by its Chairman and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, described the broad daylight attempt to cut short the life of the governor as shocking and a rude awakening. Fayemi said the Forum empathizes with the governor and the people of Benue State on the sad, cowardly, and wicked plan and condemned the act in strong terms adding all hands must be on deck to uncover the identities of those involved in this heinous crime.
In its response, the governors elected on the platform of PDP maintained, that the assassination attempt on Gov. Ortom was an invitation to anarchy. Chairman of PDP Governors Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, warned that any attempt to harm any Nigerian will be viewed by the Forum as an attempt on all of them.
The Forum reminded the Federal Government of its primary responsibility of securing the nation, especially since it controls the Military.
Equally irked, was a notable Nigerian and former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, who tasked security operatives to step up to the task of securing lives and property to avoid resort of Nigerians to self-help. Mark described the security situation in the country as scandalous and making Nigeria a subject of ridicule before other nations.
The outrage that trailed this unwholesome development in itself has silenced the mischief makers, who had taken to the social media to insinuate that the attack on Ortom was either fake, stage-managed or a political gimmick. Some even mocked the Governor over the reports that he ran a race of his life to escape the assassins’ bullets.
On our part, we sympathise with the Governor over this incident and pray that no Nigerian, including the cynics should ever experience such an attack as psychological trauma on the victim is better imagined.
Ortom himself cleared the air when he visited President Buhari in the State House, that he would never fake such an unfortunate incident as a man of faith. We believe him.
DAILY ASSET joins millions of Nigerians to condemn in the strongest possible terms the attempt to take Gov Ortom’s life. We have on many occasions held strongly on the sanctity of life and that no Nigerian, no matter how powerful, should take advantage to end the life of another.
It is instructive that Ortom has been engaged in a cantankerous relationship with some groups especially the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Cattle Breeders Association, Fulani Nationalities Movement(FUNAM) over the ‘Open Grazing Prohibition Act’ in operation in the state. The attack appears to be a fall out of the sour relationship. That FUNAM publicly accepted responsibility on the attack shows the enormity of the hatred between the Herders and Ortom.
DAILY ASSET calls on the special investigating team to interrogate these groups especially their vocal leaders to establish their culpability or otherwise.
We hold the view that the continued opposition to the Open Grazing Prohibition Act appears to have been overtaken by events as virtually the whole country has come to terms with Ortom’s position that ranching is the best way to keep animals in modern times especially given the prevailing circumstances in the country. The Northern Governors Forum has already endorsed ranching as a panacea to the incessant farmers-herders clashes. Apart from Benue, Taraba and Ekiti states, where a similar law is in operation, Bayelsa has enacted its version; Plateau state Governor, Simon Lalong has sent a similar Bill to the State House of Assembly, while other Governors are also on at various stages of making the law. We commend all the states that have seen the light to embrace ranching of animals and strongly urge the remaining states to follow suit.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) has launched DAWN: DBN Action for Women in Nigeria, unveiled its Impact Report and presented MSME Data Assets at the seventh edition of Annual Lecture held in Abuja.
DBN, in a statement on Thursday, said while delivering a welcome address, its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tony Okpanachi, said the central challenge was no longer reforms themselves but ensuring benefits reach businesses at end of the chain.
He asked how to make sure benefits reach traders in Onitsha, fabricator in Aba, farmer in Kebbi and young founder in Yaba, noting that MSMEs accounted for about half of Nigeria’s GDP and more than eight in every ten jobs, adding that when reform works for MSMEs it works for most Nigerians.
He explained that reform becomes prosperity only when entrepreneurs can act on it whether through long tenor loans to buy equipment, banks willing to take risk or skills and records needed to grow.
He said working through Participating Financial Institutions DBN provides longer term funding, partial credit guarantees through subsidiary Impact Credit Guarantee Limited and capacity building including Entrepreneurship Training Programme.
He disclosed that as at December 2025 DBN had disbursed a cumulative N1.4 trillion to MSMEs through 84 Participating Financial Institutions creating about 1.6 million jobs nationwide.
Under the new five year strategy, the Bank aims to reach more than two million MSMEs with deliberate targets for women led businesses, youth led businesses and underserved states.
On DAWN, Okpanachi said finance alone had not enabled enough women-led businesses to scale.
He said initiative brings together financing, guarantees and credit support, technical assistance, outcome linked grants and market linkages delivered through banks, microfinance institutions, fintechs, aggregators, cooperatives and direct channels.
Its priority sectors are agriculture and exports, healthcare, arts and creatives, technology and green business.
He said DAWN is about moving gender focused lending beyond intention and turning access into opportunity.
On the sidelines of the lecture DBN and African Development Bank held a signing ceremony of AfDB DBN 61 million United States dollars Gender Line of Credit development that reinforces Bank commitment to women led enterprises.
Okpanachi urged Participating Financial Institutions to extend lending into sectors and states where access to finance has been limited, policymakers and regulators to measure reform by what changes for business at end of chain and MSMEs to formalise, keep good records and use support now available.
The Vice President as Special Guest of Honour was represented by Dr Fred Iklaga Senior Technical Adviser in the Office of Special Adviser to the President on Economy.
Keynote speakers were Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Dr Karl Toriola, and Chairman of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Dr Segun Ogunsanya.
Fireside chat featured Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Abubakar Suleiman, manufacturing and trade entrepreneur Mrs Omoyemi Chukwurah and by video Kola Masha of Babban Gona.
The Secretary to the Government of Federation, represented by Augusta Warren Bekaredebo, said 2026 tax reforms would bring relief to many small businesses expressing optimism that a lot of businesses will be smiling by next year because they will be exempted from tax.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened possible nationwide industrial action following the failure of talks with the Federal Government over workers’ welfare, petrol prices and other outstanding labour demands.
The warning came after a meeting between the government and organised labour at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on Thursday, October 22, ended without an agreement.
The congress has given the Federal Government until Tuesday, October 27, to make meaningful progress on the issues, warning that its relevant organs would decide the next line of action if the next meeting fails to produce concrete commitments.
The NLC has also directed its affiliates, state councils and civil society allies to begin mobilising members for possible nationwide action.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, expressed disappointment over what he described as the government delegation’s lack of preparedness for the negotiations.
According to the congress, organised labour presented its demands in good faith but left the meeting without any concrete commitments from the government.
The demands include a reduction in petrol prices to 2024 levels, renegotiation of the national minimum wage, implementation of agreed tax relief measures and resolution of the terms of settlement involving the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The congress also called for the resolution of issues raised by the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) over peculiar allowances, wage awards and hazard allowances.
The NLC said the government delegation lacked the necessary authority to engage meaningfully on the issues presented by labour representatives.
“The meeting between the Federal Government and organised labour, convened at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on 22nd October 2026, has ended without resolution,” the statement said.
It added that the Minister of Labour requested that the meeting be adjourned until October 27 to allow the government to prepare adequately for further discussions.
The preparations, according to the statement, would include bringing relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies to the negotiating table.
The congress said it remained open to dialogue but would not accept continued delays in addressing workers’ concerns.
“We will report back to our organs, and if no meaningful progress is made on Tuesday, the relevant organs of the NLC will decide the next line of action,” it said.
The labour body urged workers and members of the public to remain calm while the negotiations continue, even as it directed its affiliates and allies to prepare for possible industrial action.
“However, we urge all affiliates of NLC and TUC; all state councils and our civil society allies to be alert and start mobilising for a possible action across the nation while we hope that the tenets of our demands are met by the government,” the statement added.
The October 27 meeting is expected to provide another opportunity for both sides to address the outstanding issues and prevent a possible escalation of the dispute.
However, the NLC’s decision to begin mobilisation suggests that tensions could rise if the next round of talks fails to produce meaningful progress.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has barred its personnel from escorting politicians during campaigns for the 2027 general elections.
Zonal Commanding Officer, RS6, ACM Abimbola Owolabi, gave the directive during her maiden visit to the Cross River Command in Calabar on Wednesday.
Owolabi said patrol vehicles and sirens must not be used for political activities or private engagements, including weddings and funeral processions.
She directed officers deployed to campaign venues to focus exclusively on traffic management to prevent congestion and road crashes.
The zonal head warned personnel against leading political convoys or providing escorts for politicians, stressing that official vehicles must not be used for unauthorised purposes.
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