News
Fresh carnage in Benue claims 30 lives *Morro, ex-Minister laments
Another orgy of bloodbath has been added to the overflowing list of carnage in the state in recent years, only this time around, it is not about alleged Fulani herdsmen attacking villages, but communities turning against their neighbours.
Reports say that no less than 30 persons, when there was a bloody attack in Okpobula, Ezza community in the Apa Ward of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected armed militia from Uffiom in neighbouring Ebonyi state.
The report, quoting witnesses in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity, as saying that the attack which started Tuesday morning and lasted till Wednesday left many severely injured and several others still missing while houses in the community were also not spared.
The latest incident, elicited immediate response from influential stakeholders from the state, particularly the area, where the carnage occurred, as they wondered why human beings would not hesitate in wasting the blood of others.
Reports quoted one of the sources as saying: “The militia are suspected to be from Uffiom in the boundary between Ebonyi and Benue states. They invaded Okpobula at about 11am on Tuesday shooting and killing anything or anyone they saw. They also burnt houses and killed the domestic animals of their victims.
“The unprovoked attack continued till Wednesday because security agencies could not access the community on time. And as at last count over 30 corpses have been discovered in compounds and bushes.
“The search for more bodies and possible survivors is ongoing because many are still missing but the level of attack is unimaginable.”
Chairman of Ado LGA, Chief James Oche described it as dastardly and inhuman, who confirmed the incident, said in a statement: “it is in the strongest terms that I condemn the attack on Okpobula Community of Apa Ward, Ado LGA which has led to killing of persons and destruction of properties. This is one attack too many.
“While we urge our people to remain calm and maintain law and order and be ready to defend themselves where need be, we call on security agencies to do the needful and bring the perpetrators to book.”
Francis Agbo, member representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency, who also condemned the development, said in a statement that he sympathised with the victims of the attack and called on security agencies to move swiftly to bring to book, those behind the coordinated attack.
The statement, signed by his spokesman, Andrew Agbese, read: “I condemn this wanton act of violence and needless bloodletting as it does not represent our beliefs in the sanctity of human lives. I share in the grief of the families of the victims and call on the security agencies to move swiftly to apprehend those behind the attack and ensure restoration of law and order.”
Abba Moro, former Minister of Interior, now Senator resenting Benue South Senatorial District, while bemoaning the development, described it as one attack too many, adding that the murder was carried out in the most bestial manner.
Conveying his position in his own statement, through his spokesman, Eche-Ofun John, Morro, who wondered what the unrepentant aggressors stood to gain from the repeated mindless attacks and Killings of innocent people in the community, charged security agents to go after the perpetrators and bring them to book, while appealing to the people to remain calm and corporate with the security agencies to deal with the situation, and not embarking on reprisals.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass who said security personnel had been deployed to the area, stated that the crisis was more among Ebonyi people which spread to border communities on the Benue side.
He debunked the figure of casualties saying that no one except security men could access the troubled area, adding, “on the Benue side three people have been killed.”
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, announced the approval of the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats and ordered the immediate release of ₦10 billion as emergency intervention funding.
Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesman, who conveyed the development to the public, said the fund would strengthen the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical national public health emergency response activities.
To be chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, the committee with membership drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and state representatives is also expected to get briefings on their plans to contain the disease.
Onanuga, stated that Tinubu also specifically directed all states hosting international airports and international border corridors, as well as relevant MDAs, to submit their plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for consideration and coordinated implementation.
Stating that the President’s move followed a stakeholder meeting convened under the CoS to review Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies against the possible importation of Ebola into the country., the statement informed that the Task Force would also intensify passenger screening at all international airports through enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols.
Other measures would also include enhanced monitoring of passengers arriving through high-risk airline routes, including Air Uganda, Rwanda Air, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines; and the immediate activation of referral and isolation centres at the Lagos and Abuja international airports, with other airports to follow.
Other measures include the mandatory activation of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers originating from or transiting through designated high-risk countries, as well as the disinfection of departure halls, cargoes, baggage areas and airport facilities as precautionary environmental measures.
The President also directed the advisory group to consult with security, diplomatic and aviation bodies on regulating flights from affected and designated high-risk countries and mandated the task force to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to enable controlled screening and isolation procedures, and to consider adjusting flight schedules to minimise interaction between high-risk passengers and other travellers.
Justice Akintoye Aluko of the Federal High Court, Lagos on Tuesday ordered the remand of Paul Jibrin Oweleke in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged cybercrime offences linked to social media broadcasts that allegedly called for overthrow of President Bola Tinubu.
Specifically, Oweleke, in a two-count charge was accused of publishing posts on his online platform known as “Oweleke TV”, urging the Nigerian military to remove the President from office in a manner similar to takeovers in some West African countries, an act the agency said bordered on incitement and the use of a computer system to disseminate content considered prejudicial to national security and constitutional governance.
Oweleke’s broadcasts, the agency stressed, were capable of inciting public disorder and promoting disaffection against the government, which will undermine the country’s democracy.
Legal argument had ensued immediately after Oweleke, pleaded not guilty to the charges, with his lawyer kicking vehemently against the prayer of the agency that the court should order his remand pending the commencement of trial, on the ground that a bail application had already been filed and served on the prosecution.
But Aluko, who was persuaded to grant the prayer, went with the DSS, while adjourning the matter to June 16 for the hearing of the bail application, stating that Oweleke, would remain in the facility of the agency pending the outcome.
By June 29 all medical doctors in public hospitals in Nigeria will drop their stethoscopes and other instruments of healthcare, unless the Federal Government settles all unpaid allowances, salary arrears, delayed training funds, and worsening welfare concerns of its members across the country’s health sector.
This was the notice served to the government on Monday, through The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the umbrella under which the doctors operate, after rising from Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) held in Kano.
In the 21-day ultimatum to the government, the doctors warned that it would not be able to guarantee industrial harmony if the issues remain unresolved within the 21-day period.
In the resolution conveying their position, signed by Mohammad Suleiman, President, Shuaibu Ibrahim, Secretary-General, and Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, Publicity and Social Secretary, on Friday, the body regretted that government had failed to fulfil several commitments to doctors despite repeated assurances and engagements.
“The association hereby declares an industrial dispute with the federal government of Nigeria on the outlined matters above and cannot guarantee industrial harmony after the 21-day window period given to address all the demands,” the communique reads.
The association said it is giving the federal government the 21-day window to commence concrete actions towards the development and implementation of a national healthcare workers assault prevention and response protocol
and the initiation of the necessary legislative process to address the menace.
NARD also demanded the release and payment of the 2026 medical residency training fund (MRTF) to all eligible resident doctors nationwide within the next 21 days.
The association questioned the unpaid salary and promotion arrears in several federal and state health institutions, as well as discrepancies in professional allowances reflected in members’ May 2026 salaries.
It highlighted the welfare issues affecting house officers, including salary delays, unpaid arrears, and difficulties with internship placement and onboarding processes that remain unresolved.
It also accused Motunrayo Omidiran, executive chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), of delaying the issuance of letters of compliance to federal health institutions, noting that the delay has hampered recruitment efforts, manpower shortages, and brain drain in the sector.
NARD expressed worries about the increasing assaults, harassment, intimidation, and violent attacks against doctors while on duty, demanding the arrests, investigation, and prosecution of perpetrators.
It called for the establishment of a national healthcare workers’ assault prevention and response protocol within 21 days by the federal government and security agencies.
-
News4 weeks agoTinubu to African leaders: Copy Nigeria, produce your way out of poverty
-
News3 weeks agoBREAKING: US-Nigeria troops slaughter 175 ISWAP fighters
-
Columns3 weeks agoDear General Gowon: That apology you’re running from is your nemesis
-
News1 week agoBREAKING: Terrorists strike Ibadan again! Abduct ex-Minister’s sister, twin children
-
News4 weeks agoWhy we pegged presidential ticket forms at N60million – NDC
-
News4 weeks agoGowon on civil war: My book is to put records straight, remove falsehood
-
News3 weeks agoBREAKING: Wait over! Arsenal are CHAMPIONS! Win EPL after 22 years hiatus
-
Columns2 weeks agoSee Tinubu’s terrible damage on Option A4 and its precious memories