The Wellingtons Premieres on Africa Magic

The jaws of Nigerians and fans around the world dropped when singer Banky W announced his engagement to the stunning and talented actress, Adesua Etomi. From their undeniable on-screen chemistry in the record-breaking movie, ‘The Wedding Party’ being undeniable, #BAAD2017 was undoubtedly the wedding of the year with their wedding ceremonies shutting down Lagos and Cape Town, South Africa.

It’s still #BAAD! With the internet still buzzing, we have all clicked (and clicked some more) on the picture of Ebuka’s outfit, joined the thousands and ogled Adesua’s gorgeous wedding dresses. Africa Magic is set to exclusively bring behind the scenes of moments leading up to the wedding on the 6th and 7th of January, 2018. Africa Magic Showcase and Urban (DStv channel 151 and 153) will showcase hot celebrity fashion, makeup, outfit changes and the exchange of vows.

Don’t miss the captivating moments as Banky puts the ‘W’ to Adesua. The Wellingtons, an exclusive look at the wedding of the decade, will premiere on Africa Magic Urban and Showcase at 8:30 pm on Saturday 6 January 2018 with a repeat broadcast on Sunday 7 January 2018 at 2 pm Africa Magic Urban and 3:30 pm on Africa Magic Showcase.

Femi Fani Kayode Reacts To News That He Abuses His Wife Domestically And Other Allegations

Oneline publication Sahara Reporters published a story that claimed that a source had informed them that not only does Fani-Kayode abuse his wife, he has also called her an infidel and refused to accept the pregnancy of triplets that she has for him.

The report read; “in reality, unknown to many Fani-Kayode had accused his wife of infidelity. The woman, disclosed family sources, is said to be pregnant with a set of triplets. However, the husband is said to be denying responsibility. The former minister, in a text message to members of his family and friends to him and his wife, said he was “reliably informed that the children Precious is carrying are not mine”. The man responsible for the pregnancy, said Mr. Fani-Kayode, is a US-based disc jockey”.

They also claimed that he had requested that his friends do not render his wife Precious any assistance, stating that he had sent a text to his friends that read “I urge you to please cut off from her and not to help her in any way. She has told the world that you intend to help her with money and I urge you to be very wary of doing so. No friend of hers can remain mine. I urge you to be very careful of this mad, ungrateful, deceitful and treacherous woman”. The former minister was said to have also collected her G-Wagon, withdrew her police escort as well as chased her out of their home as she now lives in her boutique.

Sahara reporters are also claiming that Fani-Kayode is using the prophecy given by Apostle Suleiman to cover his marriage that is on the rocks and his abuse of his wife. They proceeded to say that the prophecy of the apostle was fake. They went on to counter Fani Kayode’s recent Facebook posts claiming that it was a screen to cover up his evil doings as he had done the same with his former wives and all his estranged kids.

However, Fani Kayode refuses to sit quietly while he is being maligned and took to Twitter to address the situation. He wrote


It is obvious that @SaharaReporters have nothing better to do than to fabricate malicious stories. Their shameful story about my marriage to @Snowhitey1 and my children is fake news. People are being killed and our country destroyed and that is the garbage they write? GROW UP!

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) January 5, 2018

Then he added


Why are @SaharaReporters so desperate to discredit and raise question marks about Apostle Suleman’s prophecy that there is a plan to kidnap and assasinate my wife @Snowhitey1 this year? Are they part of the conspiracy? Are they and Buhari planning it together? They will fail!

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) January 5, 2018
Who is lying and who is telling the truth please

Over 40,000 persons displaced in Benue gunmen attack – SEMA

Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said over 40,000 persons had been displaced following the recent gunmen attack in Guma and Logo Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Mr Emmanuel Shior told the Newsmen in Makurdi on Friday that the agency had opened four camps for the displaced persons in the affected areas.
Shior disclosed that Gov. Samuel Ortom had been extremely worried over the plight of the people.
“As we speak over 40,000 persons have so far been displaced as a result of the attacks on our people in Guma and Logo LGAs.
“Government has decided to open four camps, three in Guma LGA and one in Logo LGA, the camps in Guma LGA are in Daudu, Gbajimba and Agasha, while the camp in Logo LGA is in Ugba,” he said.
Shior said that the state government decided to locate the camps in areas considered safest in the LGAs for security reasons.
“The camps are in areas that are safe and enough security has being provided for the safety of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
“What we are doing at the moment is to open temporary camps except the one in Daudu that already has existing camp facilities, the others camps are situated in primary schools located in the areas.
“We do not hope to keep them in the camps for a long time, remember this is January and most of the affected persons are farmers who are still harvesting their crops,” he said.
Shior said that government was concerned about the security of the people and their communities to enable them to return back to their homes instead of staying in the camps.
He assured the IDPs that though they were displaced they were not misplaced as government and his agency would do everything possible to give them minimum comfort.

Source Vanguard

Killer herdsmen not part of us – Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore

…condemns Benue killings

A Fulani socio-cultural association, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore has distanced itself from killings that occurred in Benue State.

The association said whoever perpetrated such crime is not a member of the socio-cultural group.

They condemned the recent attack in Benue state, leading to death of innocent people including women and children.

The group, describing the perpetrators of the evil act as irresponsible elements said the Fulanis are peace loving people.

In a statement issued at the weekend by the National Publicity Secretary of the association, Alhaji Yusuf Ardo, said the killings are unfortunate and condemnable to all.

He emphasised that Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore is an association which uphold peace, love, unity and harmony in the country, adding that they have never supported violence in the society and they would never do so any time, any day and any were in the country.

“We are peace loving people, we believed in love for one another. Any Fulani Pastoralist that doesn’t believe in peace is not part of us,” he added.

However, the association commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his prompt action on the matter by sending the Hon. Minister of interior, Gen. Abdulrahaman Danbazau (RTD) to the area.

The group further appealed to security agencies to arrest the perpetrators of the ugly incident and bring them to book.

They urged individual groups and individuals going about making false allegation against the association to desist from the act.

“It is because of our peace loving that made the association challenge the anti-grazing law in court, we believed in judiciary not violence,” It read.

The association called on all Fulani Pastoralist living in Benue and other parts of the country to remain calm and be law abiding citizen, urging the Federal government to also look into the causes of the crisis in states like, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau states so as to have a lasting solution in those areas, particularly the issues of anti-grazing laws and others involving Fulani Pastoralist in the country.

Has Femi Fani Kayode's marriage crashed?

Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode who is currently in his third marriage yesterday thanked God for using Apostle Johnson Suleiman to expose the plan of the enemies against his wife Precious Chikwendu.

According to Suleiman, FFK needs to pray because he saw plans to assassinate his wife when God revealed the prophecies of 2018 to him.

However, another news media platform, Sahara Reporters, alleges that FFK used that post as a means to cover up the already crashing marriage.

Parts of the reports read:

In reality, unknown to many, Fani-Kayode had accused his wife of infidelity. The woman, disclosed family sources, is said to be pregnant with a set of triplets.

However, the husband is said to be denying responsibility. The former minister, in a text message to members of his family and friends to him and his wife, said the man responsible for the pregnancy, said Mr. Fani-Kayode, is a US-based DJ.

Also in the text, which had the family of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, in copy, the former minister told friends that he no longer wants to have anything to do with the wife, advising their friends not to render financial assistance to her.

“No friend of hers can remain mine. I urge you to be very careful of this mad, ungrateful, deceitful and treacherous woman”, he warned friends.
.
Fani-Kayode started physically abusing Precious from the first year of the marriage, a fate that befell her three predecessors. He was said to have ordered her to abort the pregnancy that resulted in their son.
Precious ignored him but got savage beatings. It has grown worse with the allegation of infidelity. She is also said to have been relieved of the Mercedes Benz G-Wagon bought for her by Mr. Fani-Kayode.
.
Precious is back to driving 2009 Honda car and has had her police escort withdrawn by the husband. Prophet TB Joshua is said to have waded in and invited Precious to Lagos. But all the horrors Precious has been subjected to are masked by the husband’s extravagant show of affection on Facebook. This conveys the impression that things are smooth with them, a tactic he used in the case of his 3 ex-wives.

It’s too early in the year for this kind of drama. We hope this is just one of the rumours.

Terry Tha Rapman - Akolosho

Terry Tha Rapman leaks this freestyle lamba produced by Kogi state based producer Kinqi.

The Life of Joe Spazm drops on January 28, 2017 .

Customs Command Generates N13bn In 2017

Nigerian customs
The Kano/Jigawa Customs Area Command said it had generated over N13 billion as revenue from January to December 2017.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Danbaba and made available to newsmen in Kano on Friday.
He said the amount collected was above the allocated revenue target of N10 billion given to the command by the Management for the year under review.
“The command under the stewardship of Comptroller Yusuf Abba-Kasim, has made history by recording an unprecedented performance in revenue collection from January to December, 2017.
“The command collected and accounted for N13.05 billion, as against the allocated revenue target by the Management for the year of N10 billion,” Danbaba said.
He said the command with the support of Comptroller General (CG) of Customs Compliance Team, Customs Intelligence Unit and Federal Operation Unit seized smuggled items with duty paid value of over N374 million in the period under review.
Danbaba said the major items seized included foreign rice, vegetable oil, second hand clothes and drugs, among others.
“In October and November 2017, officers of the command intercepted and seized tramadol hydrochloride 225mg and diazepam worth N40 million,’’ he said.
While commending the officers and men of the command for the giant strides in the discharge of their statutory duties, the Customs Area Comptroller attributed the achievements to CG, retired Col Hameed Ali, for his motivation and necessary support.
He also commended other sister security agencies, community leaders and other relevant stakeholders operating in the area command for their cooperation to the command.
On the ban on importation of vehicles and rice through the land borders, the controller called on the business community to key into the Federal Government’s economic agenda for the development of the country.

BENUE KILLINGS :It is communal crisis, herdsmen are part of the community. They are Nigerians and are part of the community are they not?-IGP to State House correspondents

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, Friday said that communal crisis was responsible for the gruesome murder of over 30 persons in Guma and Logo local government areas of Benue State.


IGP Idris said that he has directed a Deputy Inspector General, DIG, the Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG, in-charge of Zone Four, Makurdi and the Benue State Commissioner of Police Police to get to the root of the crisis.
The Police boss disclosed this to State House correspondents after over one hour meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Though the IGP refused to mention the communities involved in the alleged communal clash, he said that Fulani herdsmen were part of the community.

According to him, “Obviously it is communal crisis, herdsmen are part of the community. They are Nigerians and are part of the community are they not?


He said he was at the State House to meet with the President on how to have effective policing in the country even as he said that the allegation that there was breakdown of law and order in the country was not true, rather enthusing that Nigeria is secured.

On the reason for his meeting with the President, Idris said, “You know any time we meet Mr. President you know the area of discussion is how to have effective security of the Nation.”

Fielding question on what he was doing about Benue following the alleged attacks of two council areas of the state by the herdsmen, he said, “You know I deployed my DIG there yesterday (Thursday) and you know we have different stages of police.

“You have the AIG in Benue, Commissioner of Police in Benue and all of them are putting their heads together to see how we address this issue of community problems in Benue.”

The IGP who debunked the allegation that the country was under siege as a result of insecurity, said, “Obviously I think Nigeria is well secured you have to be frank with us.”

When asked the reason why herdsmen killings were escalating in parts of the country, he replied, “Like I said, you know we have different levels of Police in this country. We have the Commissioner of Police in Benue, the AIG of Police in Benue.

“Yesterday (Thursday) I deployed my DIG operations there and definitely we are doing all we can to see we maintain law and order in all parts of the country.”

On the accusation that Police has been reactionary rather than proactive to stop the killings, the Police boss said, “Let’s use the example of Benue, you know most of these states where you have several languages, you know is an issue of communal misunderstanding.

“I think what we should be praying for is for Nigerians to learn to live in peace with one another, I think is very important.”

He said every time the security operatives meet the President he always give them a charge, adding, “He said that we should go and take care and ensure that we tighten our security.”

The IGP said there were so many measures he was putting in place like in Benue State where he was going to deploy more units to support the efforts the Police were making in the state to ensure they have adequate protection to the men and communities members.

Assuring that the Benue murder will not repeat itself, he refused to answer the question on whether the country was under policed but said the force was not overwhelmed.

On whether the arrest of an online publisher by SARS was on his orders because he published something against you, he said, “Anyway I don’t need to send anybody but whenever you commit an offense it is our duty to ensure that we respond.”

Oh my God ! Look at this Nigerian mum, Laye Ajube and her ten kids PHOTOS

A Nigerian mum, Laye Ajube is presently warming the hearts of many online users after these photos of her recent family shoot surfaced online.
The lovely lady is the proud mother of 10 children, which consists of eight boys and two girls.
Virtually everyone who’s seen the photos can’t get enough of its cuteness

Igweeee! D’banj bags chieftancy title in Imo state “Ezi Enyi Ka Nwanne of Amuzi”, Obowo in Imo State. (photos)

Entertainer D’banj has been honoured with a chieftain title in Imo state.
The Nigerian musician and happily married dad of one, was named as the “Ezi Enyi Ka Nwanne of Amuzi”, Obowo in Imo State.

With this, he has now joined the league of other Nigerian celebrities and politicians that have been conferred with a title in a land different from theirs.

FRSC redeploys 109 personnel

The Federal Road Safety Corps, has redeployed 109 personnel as part of efforts to enhance its operational efficiency, the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem has said.

Kazeem in a statement on Friday in Abuja, quoted the Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, as saying the shakeup was aimed at actualising the 2018 strategic goals of the FRSC.
The redeployment exercise is coming barely five days after the promotion of 1,925 officers and marshals of the corps, some of whom were affected by the shakeup.
Deputy Corps Marshal Abubakar Ringim, who was the Zonal Commanding Officer of Zone RS3HQ, Yola is now in charge of Special Duties and Partnership at the National Headquarters, Abuja.
Assistant Corps Marshal Victor Nwokolo, formerly Head of Section, Special Marshals, is now the Head of Section, Command and Strategy Administration, while ACM Kayode Olagunju, who was the Head, Policy Research and Statistics, will proceed on a course at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.
Kazeem said ACM Stephen Maitizumahs, formerly in charge of Administration and Training, is now the Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 3, Yola.
ACM Kayode Fanola, formerly on a course at NIPSS, takes over from Olagunju as Head of Policy, Research and Statistics at the headquarters.
The FRSC spokesman said, “ACM Godwin Ogagaoghene, former ACM Personnel at the headquarters, is now the Zonal Commanding Officer, Abuja.
“ACM Shehu Zaki, former Zonal Commanding Officer, Lagos is now the Zonal Commanding Officer, Bauchi; Assistant Corps Marshal Jonas Agwu, formerly in charge of Zone RS4 Jos, is now Assistant Corps Marshal Motor Vehicle Administration at the National headquarters.”

NHRC reacts to recent killings in Nigeria .Press Release

The National Human Rights Commission has called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, apprehend the perpetrators of serial killings across the country, mainly by criminal gangs operating under various guises, in order to avert breakdown of law and order.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission Mrs. Oti Anukpe Ovrawah who described the recent killings across the country as a destruction of what binds us together as human beings, said the security agencies as a matter of urgent responsibility and in the interest of peace must dig out the perpetrators of these mindless killings which have left many families without their loved ones.
Mrs. Ovrawah said these killings have no place in our society and that the government must guarantee the right to life of every person in Nigeria including effective measures to prevent attacks on innocent people by criminal gangs and other non -state actors across the country.
She said the killing of defenseless citizens across the country is horrifying as it is capable of generating mutual distrust among the various groups in Nigeria. She cited the incident in Benue state where hundreds of youths took to the streets to protest the killings that took place in various parts of the State.
She therefore urged the security services to firm up their strategies with new dynamics on tackling these challenges, adding that security agencies must make the protection of lives and properties, and the respect for human rights uppermost in their operations.
She advised the Federal and the relevant State Governments to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others.
The Ag ES commiserates with those who lost their loved ones in the recent attacks across the country as she appeals to them to be law abiding.
FATIMAH AGWAI MOHAMMAD.
HEAD, MEDIA RELATIONS UNIT

Everyone in leadership position must be accountable to the followers- Honorable Olatunji

A distinguished lawmaker representing Ife North state constituency in Osun state, Honorable 'Tunde Olatunji has said that everyone in the leadership position must be accountable to the followers.

Honourable Olatunji who said this yesterday while sending his year 2018 message to Nigerians said when it comes to leadership it cut across all sectors not only in governance, emphasising that religious bodies, governments and private organizations among others should be accountable to their followers.

He said that Nigerians should know that this is the only nation we have, stating thay we need to be patriotic and restore our lost values in the country.

"We can't promote this nation without the core values that drives us as a nation. Even when you have a constitution, it is still that core values that will drive your constitution. As a people we must stand for what is right and do it rightly. We must ensure that the development and success of our society comes first. We need to do away with every tendency that tends to divide us along ethnic and religion line. We must see ourselves as brothers and sisters and ensure we promote the unity of this country, and do everything within our capacity to make sure we restore the lost glory of this country," he said.

According to him, if we cease the opportunity of the crop of leaders that we have today in Nigeria, we would be on the part of steady growth and development and 2018 will be far better compare to 2017.

Honourable Olatunji urged all Nigerians to come together this year and move Nigeria forward, adding that no nation can develop beyond the commitment and patriotism of his people.

Proscribe Miyyetti Allah Kautal Hore as a terrorist group and treat it as such-Benue state Legislators at NASS to Federal Government

THE 2ND JANUARY 2018 TIV GENOCIDE BY FULANI HERDS MEN: A CALL FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION.


This press release is made with a heavy heart. This is because the peace which heralded the New Year in Benue state was cut short as the people of the state woke up in rude shock as communities in Guma and Logo local governments of the state were again attacked without provocation by Fulani herdsmen on the 2nd of January, 2018.

Benue State which is the Food Basket of the nation is one of the states in the north central region of the country. It is worthy to state clearly that land and water resources are core to the life of the Benue people because of the 23 Local Government Areas of the State, 80% of the people are farmers, 15% are fishermen and the remaining 5% are urban or semi urban based civil servants. This shows clearly that agriculture is the life wire of the Benue people.

It is sad and unfortunate to state that, Benue state has experienced the highest number of attacks by Fulani herdsmen in the last few years due to the quest by Fulani herders to graze on farm lands belonging to Benue farmers by all means. It is worthy to note that, hitherto, there were two groups of Fulani herdsmen that came to the State for grazing activities and were totally accepted by the people.

The first was the resident Fulani who were allotted portions of land and as such, they lived at the fringes of the farming Communities with their wives and children. While the men tended the cattle with their male children, the wives extracted juice (Nunu) and moved around the villages to sell the milk. They did not carry offensive weapons. Apart from these resident Fulani's, there was the migrant Fulani who came in with their cattle and family members during post-harvest periods only to graze their cattle and leave immediately farming season starts. They also came either through the resident Fulani or direct contact with a community leader.

With these two groups, conflicts very rarely though emanating from grazing activities were amicably resolved between the herders and the farming communities through traditional means.
However, this cordial relationship changed with strange arrival of the third wave of Fulanis with militia elements. The new Fulanis that came into Benue state jettisoned the laid down understanding between the previous two groups of Fulanis and the communities. They arrived with sophisticated weapons including AK 47 without their family members and do not seek permission from community leaders before invading their communities. They come even during planting season destroying crops, killing people and burning down villages.
It is heart breaking to Say that over 9 local governments in the state have greater portions of their communities sacked and occupied by Fulani herdsmen killing over 5000 people and destroying properties worth over Billions of Naira.

The above events and figures are just few of the unprovoked attacks on the peace loving people of Benue state without a clear statement and action from the Federal Government. In recent times, the Benue people have begun to perceive the silence of the Federal authorities especially in the presence of the threats by the leadership of Miyyetti Allah Kautal Hore led by Alh. Abdullahi Bello Bodejo and one Gololo representing the Benue wing of the association who vowed to invade and destroy Benue communities if the anti-open grazing law signed into law by the state is not reversed as a deliberate attempt to annihilate the people of the state.
With the above figures and "hate speeches" against the Benue state government and her people, it has become pertinent for us elected representatives of the peace loving people of the state at the Senate, House of Representative and the State House of Assembly to condemn in strong terms this dastardly and unprovoked attacks on our electorates by Fulani herdsmen and to remind the federal government of the following;
That Benue people are peace loving and have continued to seek peace with all her legitimate neighbours. We as representatives have also continued to prevail on our people not to take laws into their hands as we seek a permanent solution to the problem through dialogue as the Benue state government and federal elected representatives have officially presented this case personally to our President.
That the purpose of every government is the protection of life and property. This is why the Benue State Government in the bid to protect her citizenry followed due constitutional process to pass into law the Anti open grazing law.
That Benue state is the food basket of the nation and if its agricultural powers are cut off by the herders, Nigeria is in line towards food insecurity.
That Benue state had contributed greatly towards protecting the territorial integrity of the country during the Nigerian civil war. Benue sons such as Generals Chris Abutu Garba, John Mark Inienger, Gabriel Kpamber amongst others distinguished themselves in representing Nigeria in proving security at the international level such as in Liberia, Sierra leone amongst others. With the return of democracy in 1999, the people of the state voted and supported the PDP for 16 years and currently they voted massively for the present government both at the state and federal levels with the belief that the government will protect life and property.
That the Benue state government and her people are not confronting the Federal Government or the Fulani herdsmen in a war but it is only seeking a constitutional end to the perennial conflicts that have had devastating consequences on the overall development of the state by the implementation of the anti-open grazing law.
That Benue state and her people have greatly been marginalized in national calculations during this present administration in areas of infrastructural provision (roads, rail, establishment of security formations etc), and Federal appointments. Despite this, the people have not taken up arms against the Nigerian state as done in other segments of the country who are not only less in population but have contributed less in the Nigerian project.
That the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari who is loved by the Benue people should remember that Miyyetti Allah Kautal Hore led by Alh. Abdullahi Bello Bodejo publically endorsed the former President against President Buhari during the 2015 general elections (pictures are everywhere to attest to this). And it is the same group that has been allowed by the same government it fought against to cause high level insecurity in the country against the people that supported the president without caution.
That the attacks on Benue state are deliberately designed to cause fear in other states that are desirous of emulating Benue state by passing and implementing the anti-open grazing law in their states.
Despite these frustration faced by the Benue people, we their representatives still have absolute confidence in the present government under President Buhari. This is why we seek on behalf of our people to obtain the following actions from the Federal Government with immediate effect;
To immediately arrest and prosecute the leadership of Meyetti Allah Kautal Hore that had vowed to invade the state at the beginning of this year if the Anti-open grazing law legally passed and signed into law is not reversed. The Federal Government should support the implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing law passed and signed into law by Benue state government and other states.
The Federal Government to establish a military base on the Nasarawa –Benue and Taraba Benue state border for quick response to threats by the herders.
To set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the persistent conflicts between the herders and farmers. To immediately set up camps and send humanitarian assistants to the affected communities and to immediately compensate the affected communities.

To establish the North Central Development Commission to address the plight of the area arising from the damage caused by the persistent conflicts between the herders and farmers.
The federal government should proscribe Miyyetti Allah Kautal Hore as a terrorist group and treat it as such.
Signed HE Sen. George Akume Sen. Barnabas Gemade
Rt. Hon. John Idyegh Rt. Hon. Barr. Emmanuel Udende Hon. Dickson Tarkighir Hon. Barr. Benjamin Wayo Hon. Entonu Ademu Ochepo Rt. Hon. Ezekiel Adaji Rt.Hon. Dorothy Mato
Rt. Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange Rt. Hon. Benjamin Adanyi Hon. Bem MngutyoCURRENT KILLINGS: BENUE LEGISLATORS' POSITION
Press Release
THE 2ND JANUARY 2018 TIV GENOCIDE BY FULANI HERDS MEN: A CALL FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION.

This press release is made with a heavy heart. This is because the peace which heralded the New Year in Benue state was cut short as the people of the state woke up in rude shock as communities in Guma and Logo local governments of the state were again attacked without provocation by Fulani herdsmen on the 2nd of January, 2018.

Benue State which is the Food Basket of the nation is one of the states in the north central region of the country. It is worthy to state clearly that land and water resources are core to the life of the Benue people because of the 23 Local Government Areas of the State, 80% of the people are farmers, 15% are fishermen and the remaining 5% are urban or semi urban based civil servants. This shows clearly that agriculture is the life wire of the Benue people.

It is sad and unfortunate to state that, Benue state has experienced the highest number of attacks by Fulani herdsmen in the last few years due to the quest by Fulani herders to graze on farm lands belonging to Benue farmers by all means. It is worthy to note that, hitherto, there were two groups of Fulani herdsmen that came to the State for grazing activities and were totally accepted by the people.

The first was the resident Fulani who were allotted portions of land and as such, they lived at the fringes of the farming Communities with their wives and children. While the men tended the cattle with their male children, the wives extracted juice (Nunu) and moved around the villages to sell the milk. They did not carry offensive weapons. Apart from these resident Fulani's, there was the migrant Fulani who came in with their cattle and family members during post-harvest periods only to graze their cattle and leave immediately farming season starts. They also came either through the resident Fulani or direct contact with a community leader.

With these two groups, conflicts very rarely though emanating from grazing activities were amicably resolved between the herders and the farming communities through traditional means.
However, this cordial relationship changed with strange arrival of the third wave of Fulanis with militia elements. The new Fulanis that came into Benue state jettisoned the laid down understanding between the previous two groups of Fulanis and the communities. They arrived with sophisticated weapons including AK 47 without their family members and do not seek permission from community leaders before invading their communities. They come even during planting season destroying crops, killing people and burning down villages.
It is heart breaking to Say that over 9 local governments in the state have greater portions of their communities sacked and occupied by Fulani herdsmen killing over 5000 people and destroying properties worth over Billions of Naira.

The above events and figures are just few of the unprovoked attacks on the peace loving people of Benue state without a clear statement and action from the Federal Government. In recent times, the Benue people have begun to perceive the silence of the Federal authorities especially in the presence of the threats by the leadership of Miyyetti Allah Kautal Hore led by Alh. Abdullahi Bello Bodejo and one Gololo representing the Benue wing of the association who vowed to invade and destroy Benue communities if the anti-open grazing law signed into law by the state is not reversed as a deliberate attempt to annihilate the people of the state.
With the above figures and "hate speeches" against the Benue state government and her people, it has become pertinent for us elected representatives of the peace loving people of the state at the Senate, House of Representative and the State House of Assembly to condemn in strong terms this dastardly and unprovoked attacks on our electorates by Fulani herdsmen and to remind the federal government of the following;
That Benue people are peace loving and have continued to seek peace with all her legitimate neighbours. We as representatives have also continued to prevail on our people not to take laws into their hands as we seek a permanent solution to the problem through dialogue as the Benue state government and federal elected representatives have officially presented this case personally to our President.
That the purpose of every government is the protection of life and property. This is why the Benue State Government in the bid to protect her citizenry followed due constitutional process to pass into law the Anti open grazing law.
That Benue state is the food basket of the nation and if its agricultural powers are cut off by the herders, Nigeria is in line towards food insecurity.
That Benue state had contributed greatly towards protecting the territorial integrity of the country during the Nigerian civil war. Benue sons such as Generals Chris Abutu Garba, John Mark Inienger, Gabriel Kpamber amongst others distinguished themselves in representing Nigeria in proving security at the international level such as in Liberia, Sierra leone amongst others. With the return of democracy in 1999, the people of the state voted and supported the PDP for 16 years and currently they voted massively for the present government both at the state and federal levels with the belief that the government will protect life and property.
That the Benue state government and her people are not confronting the Federal Government or the Fulani herdsmen in a war but it is only seeking a constitutional end to the perennial conflicts that have had devastating consequences on the overall development of the state by the implementation of the anti-open grazing law.
That Benue state and her people have greatly been marginalized in national calculations during this present administration in areas of infrastructural provision (roads, rail, establishment of security formations etc), and Federal appointments. Despite this, the people have not taken up arms against the Nigerian state as done in other segments of the country who are not only less in population but have contributed less in the Nigerian project.
That the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari who is loved by the Benue people should remember that Miyyetti Allah Kautal Hore led by Alh. Abdullahi Bello Bodejo publically endorsed the former President against President Buhari during the 2015 general elections (pictures are everywhere to attest to this). And it is the same group that has been allowed by the same government it fought against to cause high level insecurity in the country against the people that supported the president without caution.
That the attacks on Benue state are deliberately designed to cause fear in other states that are desirous of emulating Benue state by passing and implementing the anti-open grazing law in their states.
Despite these frustration faced by the Benue people, we their representatives still have absolute confidence in the present government under President Buhari. This is why we seek on behalf of our people to obtain the following actions from the Federal Government with immediate effect;
To immediately arrest and prosecute the leadership of Meyetti Allah Kautal Hore that had vowed to invade the state at the beginning of this year if the Anti-open grazing law legally passed and signed into law is not reversed. The Federal Government should support the implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing law passed and signed into law by Benue state government and other states.
The Federal Government to establish a military base on the Nasarawa –Benue and Taraba Benue state border for quick response to threats by the herders.
To set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the persistent conflicts between the herders and farmers. To immediately set up camps and send humanitarian assistants to the affected communities and to immediately compensate the affected communities.

To establish the North Central Development Commission to address the plight of the area arising from the damage caused by the persistent conflicts between the herders and farmers.
The federal government should proscribe Miyyetti Allah Kautal Hore as a terrorist group and treat it as such.
Signed HE Sen. George Akume Sen. Barnabas Gemade
Rt. Hon. John Idyegh Rt. Hon. Barr. Emmanuel Udende Hon. Dickson Tarkighir Hon. Barr. Benjamin Wayo Hon. Entonu Ademu Ochepo Rt. Hon. Ezekiel Adaji Rt.Hon. Dorothy Mato
Rt. Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange Rt. Hon. Benjamin Adanyi Hon. Bem Mngutyo

What did we do wrong? Why are our people being slaughtered so mindlessly and so ceaselessly?-Hon Kester Kyenge (Member BNHA Logo Consti)

"What did we do wrong? Why are they killing us?"

Those are the questions in the hearts and on the lips of my people. Many of them, women, children and the old, must have died with those unanswered questions on their parched lips. They must have uttered those words in cries of agony at the moments of their gruesome deaths.

What did we do wrong? Why are our people being slaughtered so mindlessly and so ceaselessly?

Is there no one to save us? Is there no law to shield us? Or are our killers above the law?

From one end of Benue to the other the carnage has become a regular beat, a carnival of sort, a bazaar of death.

Its rhythm has become premeditated and predictable, bringing together the season of harvest on our farms with the visiting harvest of blood and tears;


The season of the herdsmen's harvest.

This time the drum beat has struck a stanza in Guma and Logo local government areas, drawing rivers of blood and a harvest of corpses. Women, children, the aged and youths alike are now lying in mortuary vaults like sheaves staked in barns after the harvest. The very soul and essence of our survival as a people so boorishly butchered in cold blood.

This is the herdsmen's harvest.

Today I stand before the God who created all living and I speak to the human community inhabiting this earthly realm. I speak to the conscience resident in every human soul, both the highly and the lowly. We are all united by a common humanity, and I make bold to call on all men and women of good conscience and particularly the international community to hearken to our cries in the face of organized silence before we are completely annihilated as a nationality.

And I say this for the present times and for posterity;


That we the people of Logo Local Government Area who are being killed so wantonly and so brazenly by suspected Fulani herdsmen have done no wrong to our assailants to deserve paying with our dear lives;

That we have all along been resident in our humble rural abodes content with pursuing a simple agrarian means of livelihood which largely consists in tilling the land for food and economic exchange;

That my people of Logo do not have any issues with those herdsmen invading our land, killing at will and leaving irreparable destruction in their wake. We have continued to engage in constructive dialogue and obedience to the dictates of enabling laws and statutes while our killers have continued their systematic and organized pogrom with flagrant disregard to the laws of the land.


We have a right to life, same as all humans, including those who take it away from us so cruelly and inexplicably.

This is a right guaranteed under the laws of our land and the universal charter of human rights, and it is that right we call on the global human community to rise to guarantee for us now.

We will from this day not hold our peace and die in silence any longer, but will tell to the whole world our agony and the terror visited on us by a force propelled solely towards our destruction.

Reason and justice may not appeal to the herdsmen hacking our people to death with such wanton abandon, but we will cry out to the world and show our wounds for all to see. Then, perhaps, then will the blood of our fallen loved ones and our tears not flow in vain.

We are in deed in a State of Emergency and I demand that the Benue State and Federal governments declare 2 days of national mourning and move decisively and with utmost dispatch as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to deploy sufficient security personnel in the effected areas to forestall any repeat of these attacks and for once arrest and bring perpetrators to justice.

We also demand that the Federal Government declare Fulani herdsmen perpetrating violence against farmers across the country as terrorists and treat them as such.

These are undeniably very trying times for us as a people and inasmuch as my heart is drenched in blood I ensue for calm and restrain. I urge us not to seize the laws into our hands. Truly, I share your conviction and particularly your anguish. I also thank you most profoundly for your concern and brave show of courage and solidarity.

Much as I have called for sustained collectivity I take personal loss and responsibility not only because I have lost relations directly but the more because I am involved in government, irrespective of my continued frustrations and obvious limitations.

As the people's Representative I fully appreciate that every single death of one of us diminishes us collectively. I am impoverished and have never felt this damned and unsettled as continuously hapless constituents are hounded, villages razed and ancestral farm lands sacked while government gropes endlessly for solutions.


From Tse Akenawe, to Tse Verinumbe, to Tse Orveren, to Jootar, to Tyogbenda Anyiin communities in Gambe-Tiev, Logo to Tomatar near Tse Abi, Nongov in Guma Local Government Areas, it has been sustained attacks and killings as the statistics swell with daily harvest of tons of corpses from surrounding environs. These settlements have been reduced to ghost habitations with huge numbers of displaced old, women and children trekking aimlessly with neither food, water nor shelter.


This is in deed one invasion too many, and the deafening silence hovering over it from the top must be broken now and for good.

Once again, as I commiserate with HE Samuel Ortom and the government and peace loving people of Benue State and particularly helpless Logo State Constituents in our season of collective grief and great loss, I pledge on my oath that I will not relent in my resolve to fight to get justice for my constituents. I will continue to collaborate with agencies and actors of government to bring lasting peace and succor to my people.


May the blood of our murdered loved ones and our tears flowing in agony not be in vain.


We stand together; God with us.

Hon. Terna-Kester Kyenge PhD,Member, BNHA (Logo State Constituency).

VIDEO: Buhari’ sent his people to kill Benue indigenes – Asari Dokubo

A former Niger Delta militant leader, Ahaji Asari Dokubo, has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari sent his Fulani brothers to kill natives of Benue State.

He said it was shameful for people of the state to keep crying without rising up against the marauding herdsmen unleashing terror on their land.

In a video shared on his Facebook page, Dokubo alleged that Benue leaders were behind the ongoing pogrom in the land.

He said, “When evil reigns, there is darkness everywhere. People are sad. But when we bring evil upon ourselves who are we to be blamed.

Benue has been known from the time of Tarka, the Middle Belt Congress.

But they people can be easily deceived that was why the Gemade, Akume, out of their greed manipulated and brought this Hitler called Buhari upon us.

Benue, this is not the time to cry. Tivs, Idoma, Igede, this is not the time to cry.

This is the time to stand up as men we are. Whenever they come, you stop their jihad from entering their land.

Where is that power today? Whenever their cattle enter your land you eat them, that is what you called it Munchi.

You are crying like a baby. Shame on you! If Tiv women are strong, rise up.

This is like the story of Solomon we read in the Bible when he died and his son Rehoboam rose and deiced to publish the people.

They betrayed you and rigged you votes. Where is that evil called Suswam that chastised you with scorpions and serpents?

The wicked Satan called Buhari sent his people to maul Benue indigenes and you are their crying.

You cannot continue like, you are giving their people too much chances. Shame on you!”

Watch full video below.

EFCC grills David Mark over N5.4billion slush funds

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday grilled a former President of the Senate, David Mark in connection with alleged N5.4billion slush funds.

He is under probe for curious payment made to him by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Sambo Dasuki.

Similarly, a former Minister of State for Niger Delta, Sam Ode is being probed over N2billion campaign funds meant for Benue State.

The Nation reports that Mark reported to the EFCC at about 1.45pm.

He had, late last year, presented a medical certificate to the commission agency that he was not fit enough to “be able to write a statement”.

Mark is accused of receiving N200m-N550m arms procurement cash from ONSA; N2.9billion curious payment into the account of the National Assembly’s account and shared to Senators during Mark’s tenure; his role in about N2billion campaign funds meant for Benue State; and illegal purchase of a N748million official residence of the Senate President.

“We have resumed full probe of Mark, who came to respond to issues raised for him by a panel of detectives”, an operative told Nation.

“Being in company of his son, he was calm during interrogation which involved the presentation of some of our findings to him.

“All together, he has more than three cases before the EFCC but we are gradually isolating every issue in which he was implicated.

“By the time we release the facts to the public, Nigerians will realize that the ongoing probe of the former Senate President has nothing to do with politics. We have been on some aspects of the investigation since 2015.

“In one of the findings, about N200million was collected in cash for Mark from ONSA through a proxy”, the source added.

I borrowed N10bn to clear salary - Kogi governor

The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Friday disclosed that his administration resorted to borrowing N10bn before it could clear four-month salary areas before the last Christmas.


He said the loan was added to the over N1.2bn that accrued to the state from Paris Club refund as well as the state’s November and December allocation before the feat could be achieved.

The governor spoke in an interview with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said, “In Kogi State today, we are up to date as far as salary is concerned. In December, Mr. President magnanimously assisted us with another tranche of Paris Club refund. Our own figure was N1.2bn and some other change on top.

“We didn’t just stop at that, we borrowed up to N10bn and we added November/December allocation to our figures and we were able to clear four months at a stretch before Christmas and some leftover were cleared before this January in Kogi State.

“As you all know the salary was very bogus and according to the figure we had we were able to distribute it among these months. So glory to God as far as Kogi State is concerned.”

From January however, the governor said workers in the state would be earning salaries based on the number of times they are present at work.

“Moving forward from this January, we have decided that we are going to make use of our clock-in device for every civil servant in Kogi State-both at local and state levels.

“So, as you come to work and clock-in, that is exactly how your salary will be generated. It is online, it is automated so nobody is going to cheat anybody.

“That is how we are going to go in the state. So, Kogi State civil servants and pensioners are all happy with this administration. Thanks to God and Mr. President for this magnanimity,” he said.

The governor also claimed that his administration had worked so hard on the security situation in the state to the point that no case of kidnapping or armed robbery has so far been recorded in November, December and January.

“The security operatives are collaborating with us, we are spending a lot on security.

“So collaboration between the security agencies and understanding by the people, they are giving us a lot of information and we are treating them with utmost secrecy and we are working harmoniously together.

“The Fulanis in Kogi State are equally collaborating with us. Even the criminal elements amongst them, they are the ones even apprehending them and handing them over to the security agencies. So we are living very harmoniously with the Fulani herdsmen, farmers and the citizens.

“Travelers are safe day and night because anywhere you go, you see security operatives and we have even vigilantes, hunters that are equally assisting us in our farms and so many other deserted areas. So Kogi is very safe,” he claimed.

On the 2019 general elections, Bello recalled that his state has already endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for second term.

He boasted that the state would return a number of votes that will dwarf that of the President’s home state, Katsina.

Benue killings: Saraki reacts, reveals what senate will do

Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, has condemned the killings carried out by Fulani herdsmen in Benue State.

The Senate President described the incident as “a reprehensible act of violence,” which has no place in Nigeria.

He said the senate would continue to render all necessary support towards ensuring that perpetrators of such “heinous killings” are brought to justice.

In a series of tweets via his social media handle, Saraki wrote: “Tuesday’s heinous killings in Benue State that has left countless families without their loved ones was a reprehensible act of violence. As Nigerians, we must all remain united in our condemnation of all such violence.

“I join all Nigerians in grieving and praying for all that have been affected. Such actions have no place in Nigeria. The perpetrators of this callous act must be caught and brought to justice.

“The Senate will continue to render all necessary support to ensure that this happens.

Recall that the State Governor, Samuel Ortom had confirmed that at least 20 people were killed after suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked communities in Guma and Logo local government areas of the state between Monday and Tuesday, last week.

Ortom disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Makurdi after the State security meeting.