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Benue Residents, Travellers Alarmed As Armed Herdsmen Take Otukpo-Ugbokolo-Otukpa-Orokam Highway Forests
Published
1 year agoon
By
Editor
Residents of the villages along the highway stretching from Okpokwu to Ogbadibo Local Government Areas, LGAs of Benue state have raised the alarm over the occupation of the expansive forests on that axis of the state by armed herdsmen.
They lamented that the marauders have converted the forests to their haven and brazenly engage in attacks and kidnappings of commuters on the Otukpo-Ugbokolo-Otukpa-Orokam road without resistance.
A member of the Orokam community and practicing Journalist who spoke on condition of anonymity said weekend that the marauders operate in the communities with impunity.
He said “from the information we have received so far from persons that were kidnapped and released after ransom was paid, the gang members are made up of Fulani herdsmen. And the hotbed of their operations is that stretch of road between Ugbokolo and Otukpa. There is a thick forest called Okungaga, that is one of the places they have converted to their fortress.
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“These are people who wield sophisticated weapons and we heard that from that point they also take their victims on foot for hours through forests to other parts of Idoma land down to Ado LGA and Otukpa in Ogbadibo LGA to hide them while they negotiation for ransom to be paid for their release.
“As we speak the Otukpo-Ugbokolo-Otukpa-Orokam highway is completely unsafe for anyone to travel on, especially at night.
“Unfortunately security agencies seem so helpless to tackle the menace as no decisive action has been taken to deal with the situation in order rout them out.
“The local Vigilante and the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards also lack the capacity to confront them because the marauders wield automatic weapons and no one in his right sense will dare confront them.”
On their mode of operation, he said, “they usually appear in military camouflage and at night they barricade the roads pretending to be security personnel in a bid to rob and kidnap unsuspecting road users.
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“Owukpa where you have a very large expanse of forests between Benue and Enugu state is another of their fortress. The people live in fear and they have become helpless.”
Only recently the traditional ruler of Ogbadibo LGA, HRH Chief Emmanuel Odeh decried the security situation in part of his domain lamenting that armed herdsmen had taken over the expansive forests in the area from where they launch attacks on innocent citizens.
While lamenting the lack of security presence in the area, the royal father said: “This leaves us vulnerable to attacks, compounded by the extensive forest areas that provide cover for kidnappers.”
Efforts to reach the Benue Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene, on the armed herdsmen issue, were unsuccessful.
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News
NYSC Commends Bauchi Govt On Infrastructural Development In Orientation Camp
Published
2 hours agoon
July 1, 2025By
Editor
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has commended Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state on his infrastructural development projects in NYSC permanent orientation camp in the state.
Mr Umoren Kufre, the NYSC Coordinator in the state made the commendation on Tuesday during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘A’ stream II orientation course on Wailo, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the renovation of corps members’ hostels and camp officials’ blocks as well as the construction of a brand new multipurpose hall in the camp by the state government portrayed the governor as a good father of the youth.
“This kind gesture will remain very fresh in our minds for a long time to come. Once more, thank you, your Excellency.
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“I also wish to thank the Bauchi state Government for providing the conducive environment and security for both Corps members and camp officials which contributed in no small measure in making this exercise a huge success
“Similarly, I appreciate all of our collaborating agencies that sent their personnel to assist us in the running of the camp. My staff, as usual, were at their very best to ensure a seamless exercise. May God bless and reward you all
“I wish to register our appreciation to the Wailo Community for being our good host and neighbours over the years, their efforts in meeting our needed casual labour demands eased much stress on the Corps members and officials
“In the same spirit, I sincerely like to commend the patriotism, loyalty, patience, perseverance, understanding, and the good conduct of Corps members during the orientation course,” he said.
READ ALSO: NYSC Assures Impactful Participation Of Corps Members On Host Communities
Kufre enjoined the corps members to continue to be obedient, loyal and diligent, urging them to endeavour to settle down quickly in their places of primary assignment and adapt to the ways of life there.
He further called on them to do their best in obeying the rules governing their host communities, learn to appreciate their customs and culture and ensure that they leave the places better than they meet them.
“The people of Bauchi state, as you have been told many times, are hospitable people and the glaring proof as you can see are the buses sent by Local Government Councils to convey you to your places of primary assignment.
“I implore you to reciprocate this good gesture by contributing your best to the upliftment of your host communities and Bauchi State in general,” said the Coordinator.
1,300 corps members completed the orientation course and were posted to different parts of Bauchi state for the one year compulsory service.
News
Ghana Deports Convicted Nigerian For Smuggling Fake $100,000
Published
3 hours agoon
July 1, 2025By
Editor
A Nigerian, Aremu Adegboyega, convicted by a Circuit Court in Accra, Ghana, for smuggling counterfeit CFA francs worth over $100,000 into the country through an unauthorised border route will be deported to Nigeria, according to The PUNCH.
Justice Christiana Cann, who presided over the case ordered his immediate deportation by the Ghana Immigration Service.
According to ASP Isaac Anquandah, as cited by a Ghanaian news outlet, The Chronicle, on Monday, Adegboyega was arrested in 2023 by customs officers stationed at the Aflao border while he was travelling on a motorcycle.
The 55-year-old was charged with two counts of possessing forged notes, in violation of Section 18(2) of Ghana’s Currency Act, 1964 (Act 242), as well as one count of illegal entry into the country.
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For possession of counterfeit CFA francs, the court fined the convict 250 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢3,000.
In default of payment, according to the report, he will serve a two-year prison sentence with hard labour.
For illegal entry into Ghana, he was reportedly fined an additional 120 penalty units or GH¢1,440. If he fails to pay, The Chronicle reports, he will serve another two-year prison term.
The sentences are expected to run concurrently, meaning he will serve a maximum of two years if he defaults on both payments.
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The report added that, in addition to the fines and prison sentence, the court ordered his immediate deportation to Nigeria.
Adegboyega was apprehended at Beat Zero, an unauthorised crossing point along the Ghana-Togo border.
Riding as a pillion passenger on a motorcycle and carrying a backpack, according to the police, he aroused suspicion, prompting the officers to search his belongings.
During the search, officers discovered bundles of suspected counterfeit currency: CFA francs totalling CFA 80,653,000 and Nigerian naira amounting to N101,500.
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Further investigation revealed that he had smuggled the fake currency into Ghana from Togo.
According to the police, he admitted in a caution statement that he was aware the money was counterfeit.
He also confessed to receiving the forged notes from a man identified as Alhaji Saibu in Nigeria, under the instruction of an alleged mafia figure named Alhaji Dials, believed to be based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Adegboyega joins another Nigerian, Abu Arome, who is currently standing trial alongside three Ghanaians for alleged fraud.
A statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed the suspects were accused of committing the crime using forged documents, falsified signatures, and fraudulent claims.
News
CAC Unveils AI-powered Portal For 30-minute Company Registrations
Published
7 hours agoon
July 1, 2025By
Editor
The Corporate Affairs Commission has launched a pilot Artificial Intelligence-powered registration portal to overhaul the current Company Registration Portal.
The Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, disclosed this at the 2025 Stakeholders’ Forum meeting.
A statement issued by the commission on Tuesday described the initiative as a game-changer aimed at significantly reducing registration timelines and enhancing the ease of doing business across the country.
According to Magaji, the new system allows for instant name reservation approvals, likening the process to opening an email account.
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“It is intelligently designed to suggest available alternatives and grant real-time approvals, removing the traditional bottlenecks,” he said.
One of the portal’s standout features is its ability to facilitate business registration using only the National Identification Number of a director or proprietor.
Magaji said that once real-time NIN verification is successful, a certificate of incorporation would be generated and delivered to the applicant’s email within 30 minutes.
He stated, “The target time for business registration is under 30 minutes to generate a certificate and deliver to the customer’s email, subject to real-time NIN verification.”
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While acknowledging that some delays may still arise due to external validations from the National Identity Management Commission, he revealed that a contingency plan has been built into the platform, using AI-powered photo ID matching to overcome such hitches.
In addition, the Commission plans to introduce a two-factor authentication system with OTP verification for all transactions.
This, according to him, will ensure no changes can be made to company records without the explicit knowledge and consent of the registered directors.
Magaji further announced that a CAC mobile application would be launched in the final quarter of 2025 to allow users to track and manage transactions on the go.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: CAC Gives Unregistered Businesses Deadline, Warns Of Jail Term
Speaking on new partnerships, he disclosed that the Commission is currently reviewing over 100 requests from local and international super agents, including the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System, aimed at deepening access and streamlining services.
Meanwhile, the Registrar-General also revealed that the Commission would commence a review of its service fees effective August 1, 2025, citing the need to maintain service quality and implement ongoing reforms.
The statement added that goodwill messages at the forum were delivered by the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, Cordelia U. Eke; Chairman, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, Sir Sebastian Essien; and Chairman, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Elder Dogala Sakpege.
Also in attendance were Mechi Brown, Director of Industry at the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Miema Akpa, who represented the Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Port Harcourt branch.
A CAC technical team was present during the event to attend to customer complaints and provide on-the-spot solutions to registration challenges.
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