From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The Catholic Diocese of Makurdi Benue State on Sunday confirmed the attack on Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongu by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen along Tyolaha, Makurdi-Naka Road, Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.Fr. Atongu, a priest in charge of St.

Theresa’s Catholic Parish Jimba in GwerWest, was reportedly attacked alongside two other parishioners on Saturday while returning from Naka town. Confirming the attack on the priest, the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev Fr Shima Ukpanya, said that Fr. Atongu was attacked and shot around Tyolaha, Makurdi-Naka Road, Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA).In a letter addressed to all priests, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Ukpanya urged all the catholic faithful to pray for the quick recovery of Fr. Atongu.The letter read: “I write on behalf of the Bishop Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Most Rev Wilfred Anagbe to inform and request for your prayers for the quick recovery of one of our priests Rev Fr Solomon Atongo.He was attacked and shot this evening around Tyolaha, Makurdi-Naka Road, Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA).”Let us unite in prayer for God’s healings upon him as the medic tries to stabilize him. May our Lady Mother of Perpetual help intercede for us”.DAILY ASSET gathered that, Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongu was traveling with two other parishioners, whose identities were yet unknown before they were attackedAccording to an eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, after they shot at the priest, thinking they had killed him, they decided to kidnap the other two persons to an unknown destination.As at the time of filing this report, the priest is presently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital, while the police are yet to give confirmation.Effort to get confirmation from the Benue State Command Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, Catherine Anene proved abortive as she could not respond to calls.Insecurity Delays Construction of N25.7bn 52kms Road Project in BenueThe contractors handling the construction of the 52 kilometers Awaji-Oju road inter local government’s road project, CGGC Global Projects Nigeria Limited has cried out over the spate of insecurity around the construction areas.The Company, who spoke through its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Bob Ogbonnaya said while they have done some good percentage of the job, insecurity has posed a high challenge thereby delaying the speed of work on the road.Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia had awarded the construction of the 52 kilometers Awaji-Oju road project, at the cost of N25.7 billion early last year.The 52 km road is linking Gwer East, Konshisha and Oju Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.However, the project is being stalled by insecurity in the area as the contractors said they may need additional time to meet up with completion.Ogbonnaya told newsmen at the weekend during the tour of projects constructed by Governor Hyacinth Alia in the last two years, that there is a Communal clash and some people were killed, stressing that there has been a couple of times the company would go to the field and there would be gunshots even up till today.”We have been trying to get more security backups but right now we have 23 security personnel working with us just to enhance their safety.Ogbonnaya, who is also the company’s Chinese to English translator, noted that they were working day and night in the past but stopped following the communal clashes.He said they may not be able to meet the one year deadline and asked for a six months extension to enable them deliver on the project. “We are also asking for a military checkpoint along the road to reduce the danger we are facing in specific areas. Close to Oju also, there is a community in Igede land fighting with another community Tiv land. So if we get a security set up closer there and to move with us, preferably army or a joint task force, it would be good.”On his part, the Acting Director of Engineering Services, Bureau of Special Projects and Infrastructure, Engr. Hembadoon Nongo, said the Awaji-Oju road project was awarded by Governor Hyacinth Alia in September 2024 while the contractor commenced work in October 2024.According to her, work is progressing steadily. The scope of the work is to construct the road up to asphalt finishing from Achohol to Oju. It’s a 12 months contract but for the insecurity challenges experienced by the contractor, only about 25 percent has so far been achieved.”They experienced some security challenges around km15. The locals were having some communal clashes and the contractors couldn’t continue. Because of that, there may be a little extension to the contract duration.”Some members of the Anchohol community including Titus Tsavwua appreciated Governor Alia for remembering them saying they are looking forward to seeing him come to commission the road which they said will ease movement for humans, goods and services.Tsavwua said the Chiefs in the community have been trying their best to end the communal fights saying “The road should be free and safe for them to work as the bullets don’t know who is who.”The team, which toured in Zone C, Benue South Senatorial District, also visited two Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in Taraku, Gwer East and Akpegede in Otukpo LGAs Utonkon-Agila-Igumale road among others.The tour of projects is facilitated by a team from Timbuktoo Media Solutions led by the former Minister for Information, Labaran Maku and Dr Mike Omeri, a former DG of National Orientation Agency (NOA).Herdsmen Killings: Och’idoma Backs Tor Tiv, Tells Herders to Vacate His DomainThe paramount ruler of the Idoma Nation, His Royal Majesty, Agaba’Idu Elaigwu Odogbo has ordered all armed herdsmen to vacate Idoma land with immediate effect to allow farmers to begin cultivation of crops.This directive formed the core of a communique released after an emergency meeting of the Idoma Area Traditional Council and local government chairmen held at the Och’Idoma’s Palace in Otukpo, a few days ago.The directive was also as result of the recent incessant attacks and killings in Idoma axis of Benue State by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen.The Tiv Area Traditional Council (TATC) had also given similar orders to the herders to vacate Tiv land following the spate of attacks and killings in part of Tiv communities.The IATC issued the order in a resolution at the end of its emergency meeting with Local Government Council Chairmen in Idoma land, presided over by the Och’Idoma, HRM Dr. John Odogbo, in Otukpo.In the resolution signed by the Council Secretary, Uloko Adegbe, the Council expressed grief over the heinous act of violence perpetrated by armed herdsmen that resulted in the tragic loss of lives in the Idoma Kingdom,While commending the government’s efforts to address the situation, the Royal fathers urged “continued and intensified cooperation and political will, suggesting that more strategic actions and resources are necessary to fully secure our homeland.“It is therefore unanimously agreed that the state government should discuss and prevail on Fulani herdsmen to vacate all farmlands to enable farmers to resume their agricultural activities without threat or intimidation.”All armed herders must be persuaded and directed to leave the area immediately to prevent further conflicts.“All residents and stakeholders are urged to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies, and promptly report any suspicious activities to support peace efforts and prevent further violence.”The Council urged the government to ensure increased security patrols, deploy additional security personnel to vulnerable areas, and conduct conflict resolution training to deter future violence in the District.It equally reminded law enforcement agencies that the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition Law was still in force, hence the need to arrest and prosecute anyone who violates the law “no matter how high or low they could be, to instill sanity in the state. No one is above the law.”While urging Local Government Council Chairmen in the District to ensure full compliance with the resolutions, the Council also emphasized that “the Federal and State Governments should show the political will to implement these resolutions by strengthening the security architecture in Idoma Land and Benue State in general.”Community Vigilance and Cooperation: All residents and stakeholders are urged to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies, and promptly report any suspicious activities to support peace efforts and prevent further violence.”Stakeholders, including community leaders, farmers, locally herders, and security agencies, are encouraged to participate in ongoing dialogue sessions designed to foster mutual understanding, trust, and sustainable coexistence.Furthermore, the authorities are called upon to review land policies and promote equitable access, ensuring sustainable use of land resources that benefit both farming and herding activities.”The government is advised to increase patrols, deploy additional security personnel to vulnerable areas, and conduct conflict resolution training to deter future violence.”Efforts should be made to provide rehabilitation, counseling, and support services to communities and individuals affected by violence and displacement, in collaboration with relevant agencies.”The enforcement of laws against illegal arms, criminal activities, and unauthorized land use must be prioritized, with offenders prosecuted to uphold law and order”, the communique maintained.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has said that listed companies declared dividends totaling N1.1trillion to shareholders in 2024.The Director-General of SEC, Dr Emomotimi Agama disclosed this at the first quarter Capital Market Committee (CMC) meeting recently in Lagos.

Agama said out of the amount, listed companies had already paid N1. 0 trillion to shareholders. This according to him reflects improved market confidence and investor returns.The director-general added that the commission between January and December 2024, had approved a total of N3.68 trillion in new issues.”This comprised N59.82 billion in fixed income issuances and N3.62 trillion in equities, reflecting strong investor appetite and issuer confidence in the equity segment of our market.”For the period spanning January to April 2025, we have so far approved new issues valued at approximately N446.38 billion.”Of this amount, N265.90 billion was raised through fixed income instruments, while N180.48 billion was mobilised via equities,” he said.Speaking on mergers and acquisitions, Agama said the commission in 2024 approved 11 transactions with an aggregate value of N320.36 billion.”Most notable of these was the acquisition of a 58.02 per cent equity stake in Guinness Nigeria Plc by N Seven Nigeria Ltd., valued at over N103.7 billion.”There were also three corporate restructuring transactions, two share capital reconstructions, one takeover, and four registrations of securities.”Among the notable corporate restructuring transactions was the scheme of arrangement involving Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, valued at over N105 billion, and the share capital reconstruction by Transnational Corporation Plc, which saw a one-for-four share consolidation amounting to N5.08 billion,” he said.Speaking further, he said the commission had approved three major transactions year-to-date worth N38.53 billion.”This includes two takeovers and one corporate restructuring. While no mergers have been recorded within the review period, the pace of market activity remains steady, with continued interest in strategic consolidation and reorganisation across key sectors.”These activities reflect continued strategic realignments within the market,” he said.On collective investment schemes, Agama said that it recorded robust expansion with a combined net asset value of N3.84 trillion as of the fourth quarter of 2024.”Registered mutual funds reached 184 in number, with a combined net asset value of N3.84 trillion and over 800,000 unitholders.”Privately managed portfolios and products grew to 444 vehicles with assets under management totaling N4.69 trillion. In aggregate, 82 active asset management firms oversee N8.53 trillion in investments.”These figures reflect a maturing market where professional fund management is increasingly recognised as a critical driver of capital formation and wealth creation.”These figures are indicative of sustained activity in the market, particularly as issuers continue to leverage both the debt and equity segments to finance growth and investment,” Agama added.

By Johnson Eyiangho and Laide Akinboade, Abuja

A high-level coalition meeting involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and others descended into chaos as delegates from Jigawa State disrupted the proceedings.

The ongoing coalition meeting at the Abuja Continental Hotel, organised by the National Political Consultative Group (North), was briefly disrupted following a disagreement over representation for Jigawa State.

Tensions rose when former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, announced a delegate to speak for the state.

In protest, several Jigawa delegates stormed the stage, blocking the individual from speaking and insisting they would not be represented by those named.

As the confrontation escalated, security personnel, including members of the Nigerian Police, DSS, and private guards, quickly formed a protective barrier around key figures such as Atiku, Amaechi and others.

Calm was restored after several minutes of appeals, as Mustapha Lamido, son of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, along with another delegate, was chosen to speak on behalf of the state.

PDP Defies Wike, Vows to Hold NEC Meeting at Wadata Plaza

Despite threats to seal the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat by Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nysom Wike by Monday, the party insisted that it will go ahead with its 99th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled to hold on Tuesday, at the Secretariat.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike had directed that the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja and 4793 other properties be sealed on Monday.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had in March 2025 revoked the PDP Secretariat located at Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, and 4793 other properties.

Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister, Lere Olayinka, said the properties would be sealed Monday (today) at a joint news conference on Friday with the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, and Director Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima.

However, a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, yesterday reminded NEC members that the scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday at the same venue.

Ologunagba recalled that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) 600th meeting held on Tuesday, 29th April, 2025 resolved to hold the 99th NEC meeting on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025.

He advised all NEC members to attend the meeting. The PDP NEC Meeting had been postponed several times before now.

PDP Crisis: Wike Withdraws from PDP Peace Talk

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, at the weekend, said that he was pulling out of all previous agreements reached to resolve the lingering crisis in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), vowed to “fight on until justice is attained.”

The FCT Minister, who said he had pointed out to the Oyo State Governor. Seyi Makinde, that he was the architect of the party’s present problems, disclosed that he told Governor Makinde that “non-adherence to agreements reached was the bane of the party, and that he was the chief culprit of this anomaly.”

This was contained in a statement titled; “PDP Crisis: My Position,” which he personally signed, the Minister insisted that resolutions reached that Senator Samuel Anyanwu remained the National Secretary of the PDP in tandem with the Supreme Court judgement, all legal matters relating to Rivers State must be withdrawn by the National Legal Adviser, the suit on the State of emergency be withdrawn forthwith and that nobody should deviate from the agreements so reached, must be respected by all the parties involved.

“Since after the 2023 General election, the PDP has been wantonly swinging from one part of a slippery precipice to another, owing fundamentally to dishonesty and lack of trust amongst its key stakeholders. “To stem this ugly trend, efforts have been made to arrest this pernicious virus of dishonesty and treachery and enthrone fidelity to agreements with a view to stabilizing the party and moving it forward.

“To this end, a meeting of the G5 was held in Lagos. In that meeting, I made it clear to the Governor of Oyo State, HE. Seyi Makinde that he was the architect of our problems, pointing out to him that non-adherence to agreements reached was the bane of the party, and that he was the chief culprit of this anomaly. At the end of the meeting, we resolved to bury the hatchet and make progress.

“As a follow-up to the aforementioned meeting, there was an expanded meeting in Abuja involving HE. Seyi Makinde, HE. Umaru Fintri, HE. Bala Mohammed, HE, Bukola Saraki and I in Saraki’s guest house. In that meeting, I made it clear that I had no personal problems with HE. Bala Mohammed, except that he hides under the facade of Chairman of PDP Governors Forum to serially renege on agreements. Tensions rose mightily in the meeting and it took all concerned to calm frayed nerves. At the end of the meeting, we came to some resolutions, including: that Senator Samuel Anyanwu remains the National Secretary of the PDP in tandem with the Supreme Court judgement, all legal matters relating to Rivers State must be withdrawn by the National Legal Adviser, the suit on the State of emergency be withdrawn forthwith, and nobody should deviate from the agreements so reached.

“In the light of the foregoing, they pleaded with me to attend the stakeholders’ meeting at the Bauchi Government Lodge, regardless of my many engagements. I attended the meeting and clearly reiterated my earlier concerns, and to this end and in order to resolve all other lingering and pending issues, a committee was formed, headed by HE. Bukola Saraki.

“It is disheartening to note that even before the Bukola Saraki Reconciliation Committee began its work, the gentleman’s agreement we reached at Saraki’s Guest House was already being crudely violated. To my chagrin, Seyi Makinde had connived with Peter Mba of Enugu State to orchestrate the summoning of the meeting of so-called South-East leaders to recommend that if Ude Okoye was not adopted as Secretary, they would pull out of the PDP. I have since granted an interview to the effect that, that resolution of the South-East leaders can not hold.

“Again, Seyi Makinde organized some people in the National Secretariat to insist that the Deputy National Secretary should act as National Secretary, in violation of the agreement earlier reached. To attempt to give credence to this farce, a letter was written by the Deputy National Secretary, calling for a meeting of the NEC of the party. Furthermore, the letter confirming the candidacy of the Governorship candidate of the party in the forthcoming Governorship elections in Anambra State, duly signed by the National Secretary, Senator Anyanwu and the acting National Chairman, was portrayed as rejected by the party through a rebuttal letter signed by the National Publicity Secretary, acting on the orders of Seyi Makinde and Peter Mba. All these actions are in complete violation of the agreements reached and would not do the party any good whatsoever. On the 24th of May 2025, in Jos, for instance, a well publicized and properly attended zonal elective congress of the PDP was aborted because the letter inviting INEC to the congress was signed by the Deputy National Secretary of the party. INEC refused to attend because the proper signatory recognized by law, that is Senator Samuel Anyanwu, was not a signatory to the invitation notice. This is undeniably distasteful, provocative and annoying, to say the least.

“I have painstakingly put out all these facts so that PDP members and the general public would know the truth. I have been in this party since 1998 and have worked tirelessly for the survival of this party with all my strength and it is on record that none of these persons have done anything close to what I have done to sustain this party. What is more painful is that I contributed substantially to most of these governors winning their elections, yet I have not made any personal demands on any of them and I would never do so.

“Most importantly, I had thought that we could keep the trust amongst us, but since it is now obvious that they would continue to play games to the detriment of the party, as is the case in the current debacle in the North-Central zonal elections, I have now firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached. I have decided to fight on until justice is attained,” the statement read.