Metro

50 Feared Killed As Suspected Herdsmen Invade Benue Communities

Published

2 years ago

March 7, 2023

No fewer than 50 persons have been feared killed during a four-day attack by suspected herdsmen who invaded some communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

It was gathered that the affected communities include Adam, Iyarinwa, Abamde Ityuluv, Waya Boagundu, Agura Ayaga and Azege areas in Turan Council Ward, Kwande LGA.

The immediate past Chairman of the LGA, Tertsua Yarkbewan, while speaking to journalists on the phone on Monday, said over 50 people were killed during the attacks by suspected herdsmen.

He said, “My people are being massacred like goats. What we have been hearing is that there are Fulani attacks, especially in Turan in the Kwande axis. Even places where there were no attacks before are witnessing attacks.

“Now, every day you hear that five or four people were killed, you cannot have the exact number of those that have been killed because some corpses are still in the bush and yet to be recovered. But looking at the number of people being killed in the past few days, I think the casualty figures should be over 50.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, when contacted, debunked the casualty figure.

She said, “They have not given me the report but it is not up to 50; the initial report they gave me there was a change of leadership of the division. The new DPO just reported last Friday and when I asked him to give me a situation report he said the area is calm now.”

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the APC, Hyacinth Alia, in a statement issued by one of his media aides, Isaac Uzaan, condemned the attacks on communities in Kwande and Gwer-West by suspected herders.

He also expressed deep concern over the herdsmen invasion of communities in the state and the gruesome killing of citizens, adding that the situation had become a new normal in the state.

“The Benue APC governorship candidate faulted the resurgence of the brutal killings of Benue citizens, wondering why such was coming at the heels of the presidential and National Assembly elections that produced Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement said.

In his reaction, the acting Chairman of PDP in the state, Isaac Teryila, condemned the attacks that resulted in the loss of people’s lives, the destruction of property including farms and the consequent displacement of people from their lands in the state.

“Those attacks, if not halted by security forces, will further worsen the problem of low voters’ turnout at the coming governorship and state House of Assembly elections slated to hold on March 11, 2023, across the state.”
PUNCH

Metro

Three-storey Building Collapses On Lagos Island, Many Injured

Published

1 day ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

A three-storey building has collapsed on Lagos Island, injuring some occupants.

The building is located on Asesi Lane around the Adeniji Adele Road.

According to Lagos State Information Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso, “Four persons have been rescued from the rubble. They have been taken to hospital.”

Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), among others, have since gotten to the incident scene.

Details later…

Metro

NDLEA Arrests Warri Chief, Ayirimi Emami’s Brother For Alleged Drug Smuggling

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

… Group lauds agency

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Emami Ajetsibogho, younger brother to Warri Chief, Ayirimi Emami, for allegedly smuggling drugs worth billions of naira into the country.

It was gathered that the suspect was arrested by the agency’s strike force at Apapa in Lagos State Command following a tip-of.

Reacting to the arrest in a statement, rights activist and president, Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, Comrade Austin Ozobo, commended the agency and in particular Commandant-General of the NDLEA, Maj. Gen. Buba Marwa for fighting against drug illicit drugs

Ozobo said, “The arrest of Chief Emami’s brother is a milestone, laudable achievement in the fight against drug trafficking in this country.

“I want to commend NDLEA who were able to get the lead information to apprehend this criminal suspect.”

He added: “As Ijaw people, we are happy that God is vindicating us. The Itsekiris are hell bent to kill the Ijaw people to grab their lands.”

He recalled how a British Soldier from the Itsekiri extraction was recently arrested for smuggling guns into Warri to kill innocent people, especially Ijaw and to cause a crisis in Warri, adding, “God exposed him and DSS arrested the British Soldier and thwarted his evil intentions.”

He noted that another Itsekiri person has been caught allegedly trafficking drugs into the Country. “Who knows whether it was to drug miscreants to kill Ijaw people and burn villages? Ozobo asked.

“Ayiri particularly who has been making all kinds of unprintable statements against Ijaw people, we are surprised that his younger brother is a drug baron. Ayiri should be ashamed of himself.

“This shows that Ayiri Emami’s family is not a reputable family, by wanting to bribe NDLEA with a whopping sum of Two hundred million (N200m) to get his brother released. We thought Ayiri had a reputation, but it is shameful.”

Comrade Ozobo, therefore, urged the NDLEA to investigate the matter thoroughly and prosecute the suspect in line with stipulated laws to serve as a deterrent to others.

“I am calling on the NDLEA to investigate properly and bring to book anyone connected to this crime. If Ayiri is connected, he should be brought to book. Anyone connected connected should be brought to book,” he said.

Metro

Ekiti Court Remands Man Over Alleged Threat To Life

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

An Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, has ordered the remand of a 31-year-old man, Caleb Ajobor, at the correctional custody in Ado Ekiti over alleged assault and threat to life.

The defendant was accused of conducting himself in a way that constituted a threat to the life of a woman, one Omotayo Olowolagba, at the Ekute area of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court on Wednesday that “the defendant on June 29, 2025, at about 10am at Ekute Quarters, Ado Ekiti, did assault and threaten the life of Olowolagba Omotayo.

“The defendant did hit the chest of the female victim and conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace in society.

“The offence committed is punishable under sections 185, 46, 181(d) laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria 2021,” the prosecutor stated.

Oriyomi pleaded with the court to order the remand of the defendant in the correctional centre.

Counsel to the defendant, Adunni Olanipekun, however, urged the court to grant his client bail, assuring that he would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, refused the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the correctional centre.

Adeosun adjourned the matter till July 11 for hearing.