Nation
Suspected Herdsmen Kill Four In Benue …As Soldiers Crush Three Bandits
Four persons were killed and seven others injured in a renewed attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen, last Friday night at Tse Angbande, a suburb of Makurdi, the capital city of Benue State.
The incident, according to locals, happened around 11pm, and a family was almost wiped out in the attack.
A local who simply identified himself as Ityavya said an elderly man identified as Emberga Akwa; his brother, Innocent Akwa; son, Terhemba Akwa; and an in-law known as Orban were killed in the attack.
The injured include a wife to the murdered son, Veronica Akwa; a nursing mother who was hit in the leg, and Ephraim Akwa, amongst others.
At the time our correspondent visited the village, people have deserted the area while apprehension has gripped the nearby villagers in Adaka community, all in Makurdi Local Government Area.
Friday night attack came barely four days after suspected herdsmen killed a man and his wife at Adaka in Makurdi before they were repelled by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke who killed three of them.
The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who visited the scene of the attack, yesterday morning alongside the state Commissioner of Police, Mukkadas Garba, condemned the barbaric act.
Ortom, who condoled the families of the deceased, assured the people that security had been beefed up to ensure 24 hours vigilance in the affected area to prevent a recurrence, adding that the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state must continue.
The governor also visited victims of herders’ attack at the hospital, yesterday.
The victims, who escaped the attack, were receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.
Ortom, addressing newsmen during the visit, said the state government would take over the treatment of those injured and are being treated.
He acknowledged President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to security agencies to tackle terrorists operating in the country.
The governor stressed that his administration would not relent until herdsmen attacks on his people end.
Three suspected armed bandits were shot dead at Adaka community in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State following a gun battle with the troops of the joint military spike operation code named Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS).
The incident happened at Adake, on Makurdi–Naka-Adoka Road, just five kilometres away from Makurdi.
The armed bandits stormed Adaka settlement, a suburb of Makurdi, the state capital and shot sporadically into the air to scare away inhabitants.
In the melee that ensured, they robbed members of the community of their belongings.
Luck, however, ran out of them as a distress call was put across to the military personnel who were on their vehicle patrolling the area.
The OPWS engaged the bandits and three of them were shot dead while others fled into the bush.
Three AK-47 were also recovered from the bandits.
Reacting on the incident, Commander of OPWS, Major General Adeyemi Yekini said his patrol team had an encounter with some armed bandits around Adaka community.
“Our troops are on top of the situation and will do everything possible with other security agencies on ground to protect the people,” Yekini said.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.
In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.
The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.
According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.
Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.
In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.
The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.
Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3
-
News2 days agoRSG Targets Nine Million Residents in Mosquito Net Distribution Campaign
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoAiyedatiwa Signs New Electricity Bill
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoNLNG Commissions Research And Innovation Centre In RSU
-
Maritime2 days agoMarine Minister Commends President Tinubu On NPERA Bill Assent
-
News2 days agoKenPoly Holds Eight Convocations, August 29
-
News2 days agoRSG Begins Another Phase of Projects Commissioning Today
-
News2 days agoRMAFC Completes Revenue Sharing Review, Proposes New Pay
-
Maritime2 days agoNAGAFF Petitions IGP Over Alleged Maritime Police Harassment