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By Aviashima Toom The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom Tuesday swore-in two commissioners - Dr. Joseph Ngbea and Pastor Ojema Ojotu and also installed first Class Chief of Eneno, Och' Eneno II, His Royal Highness, Engr. George Edeh. Ortom also swore-in a Special Adviser, Hon. David Demenongo Orshi as well as Mrs. Margaret Atu and Barrister Benjamin Une as members of the Benue State Judicial Service Commission. He appealed to the new commissioners, special adviser and members of the judicial service commission as well as the royal father to take their new assignments with total commitment and patriotism to ensure success. "It is our expectation that the new Hon. Commissioners, Adviser, Members of the Judicial Service Commission and our Royal Father will take their new assignments with total commitment and patriotism as these are crucial for their success," Governor Ortom stated. The Governor said his administration is determined to put in place a

......Resolves to Promote Ranching, Agriculture  By Aviashima Toom The Governors of North Central region Monday, have called for the Establishment of military base or training camps in forests, while resolving to promotes reaching of livestock and  agriculture. They made the resolution after a meeting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital with also a resolved to strengthen general security of lives and property in states of the region. Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum and Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello read the communique at the end of the meeting held at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi. He said it was the resolution of the forum that the region and the nation in general is going through challenging times occasioned by insecurity, low agricultural production, infrastructural deficit and low internally generated revenue which require collective sense of patriotism and innovation to surmount. "Request for services of Agro-Rangers of the Ni

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has given a blow-by-blow account on how security forces rescued Islamic students kidnapped in a village in Katsina State on Saturday night. A statement made available to newsmen on Sunday and signed by Maj. Gen. John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, said soldiers received a distress call on the kidnap incident and immediately mobilised to the scene. The statement read: “Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in conjunction with Police and local vigilante deployed at Dandume LGA of Katsina State received a distress call at about 11:30 PM on 19 December 2020 from locals at Mahuta village that suspected bandits were moving with unconfirmed numbers of Islamiya children mostly girls and rustled cattle. “The children were returning from Maulud programme at Unguwar Al- Kasim village at Dandume. In reaction to the distress call, troops quickly mobilized to the scene, laid ambush and blocked bandits’ route along Daudawa-Kadisau an

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters says the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have raided an hideout of some of late Gana’s militia gang members in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue killing two. The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement on Sunday, said that troops also arrested one of the bandits. Enenche said the recent operation was in continuation of efforts to forestall banditry and other criminal activities in the North Central zone of the country. He also disclosed that three locally made rifles, 21 rounds of 7.62mm Special Ammunition as well as other items including a motorcycle were recovered by the troops during the encounter. “Troops have on Dec. 16, conducted a dawn raid on the criminals’ location at Adangbe Village in Mbacher Council Ward of the Local Government Area. “The superior firepower of the troops forced the bandits to flee in disarray. “However, as troops engaged the criminals in a hot pursuit, two of t

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigerian Police Force has promoted its Public Relation Officer, Frank Mba, from the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police to Commissioner of Police. More details to follow….

By Magnus Eberibe The Ogbobula Isaac-led Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has suspended Senator Magnus Abe, Igo Aguma, Livinstone Wechie and Worgu Boms. Isaac, who made the declaration on Saturday in Port Harcourt, recommended their expulsion from the party accusing them of anti-party activities. He also declared the expulsion of all the persons, who were inaugurated as caretaker committee leaders in wards and local government areas by Aguma. More details to follow……

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja At least 35 passengers were on Friday abducted by Boko Haram insurgents along Damaturu-Maiduguri road. Military sources who disclosed the incident said the insurgents attacked a large convoy of commuters near Garin Kuturu in Jakana at about 5 pm on Friday. The insurgents, who reportedly appeared in military uniforms, were said to have mounted a roadblock on the highway with five Hilux vans before taking away the passengers. “The passengers first sighted a burning fire, but they thought it was bush burning, not knowing that they had already ambushed a Dangote’s truck driver and set it ablaze,” a source said. “But while they were approaching the scene, they sighted the insurgents storming towards them on trucks mounted with heavy weapons, before they could turn their vehicles to run, the insurgents had already caught up with them. “Many of the passengers fled to the bush, 35 were abducted, two private vehicles and one truck were set ablaze. Nine vehicles of the a

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja. The Acting Director,Defence Media Operations (DMO), Brig. Gen. Bernard Onyeuko says,more terrorists have been killed and dangerous sophisticated weapons recovered by the troops of Operation Fire Ball The Operation Fire Ball is a subsidiary operation under Operation Lafiya Dole operating in the North East within its Theatre of Operation have continued to exhibit their dexterity and tactical superiority against remnants of Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province criminals within the zone. Gen. Onyeuko in a statement said,troops during its operation conducted on 16 and 17 December, 2020,inflicted heavy casualties on the criminals ,recovering some firearms including Gun Trucks, Anti Aircraft Guns, assorted ammunitions, among others. “In the early hours of 17 December 2020, unconfirmed number of Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province in Gun Trucks and foot fighters attacked Army Super Camp 17 at Cross-Kauwa. “The troops of 401 Special Forces Br

NAF distributes another 117 clinical oxygen to COVD-19 treatment Center By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has on 16 December ,2020 begun the distribution of another 117 cylinders of LOX to two COVID-19 Management Centres in Abuja. This was in line with the Chief of Air Staff’s directive. Due to the surge of the second wave of the COVID- 19 in the country, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar had given directive to the NAF Liquid Oxygen (LOX) Plant at the 103 Strike Group (103 STG), Yola to scale up the production of LOX for distribution to COVID-19 Management Centres. Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola in a statement said, in compliance with the earlier directive by the Air Chief, the service has distributed the products to two COVID- 19 treatment centres situated in Abuja. According to the statement, the beneficiary Centres include, the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwa

By Aviashima Toom The Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom, has commissioned Commercial Road in Otukpo constructed by his administration. Ortom also approved extension of Oshigbudu - Obagaji road through Okokolo to Agagbe in Gwer West Local Government Area of the State. Governor Samuel Ortom who announced this on Friday in Obagaji while unveiling the plague for the commissioning of Oshigbudu - Obagaji road said contract for construction of the road had already been awarded to Rock Bridge Construction Company and is captured in the 2021 budget. The Governor also pledged his administration's readiness to complete the water project in Obagaji, Agatu local government area of the state, stressing that funds would soon be released to that effect. Commenting on renewed attacks on some communities in the state by militia herdsmen, the Governor said the hospitable nature of Benue people does not include conceding their ancestral lands to foreigners. He stat

...... Declare emergency on security, Benue NBA Urges FG By Aviashima Toom  The Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has failed in the leadership of Nigeria. Ortom stated this when the Makurdi branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, on Thursday, paid him a solidarity visit over the demise of Bar Moses Udam, his pregnant wife and two others who were gruesomely murdered by Fulani herdsmen few days ago in Makurdi. Ortom, regretted that by any standard of judgment, the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed the nation in the vital area of improving its security. with massive social security worsening under his administration. He said that, it is shocking that in spite of unprecedented consensus among Nigerians that the administration requires a new resolve, approach and leadership in the fight against the nation’s multiple security challenges, President Buhari appears either totally isolated or in deep denial over the result o

....as 48 Inmates gain Freedom By Aviashima Toom The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has directed the immediate completion of construction work at the Maximum Security Custodian Centre, MSCC Makurdi to decongest the existing cells. Governor Ortom, gave the directive today during a working visit to the facility directed the Commissioner for Finance to immediately release funds for the completion of the project in record time. He also directed the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice who doubles as Chairman prerogative of mercy to compile a list of deserving inmates for pardon. Governor Ortom equally urged the Chief Judge of the State to use his position and identify those who are unjustly being incarcerated and those who could not afford to pay their fines for necessary action, saying if given another chance, some of them could become better citizens. He inspected the level of encroachment on the land belonging to the correction centre, also addressed the 4

By Aviashima Toom Benue State government has banned the holding of picnics during the 2020 Christmas and 2021 New Year Celebrations in the state. Governor Samuel Ortom who briefed journalists at the end of the State Security Council Meeting today urged Benue people to celebrate the festivities with their families, saying the ban was in line with COVID-19 protocol regarding public gatherings. He disclosed that council reviewed the general security situation in the state and took steps on how best to protect lives and property especially during the festivities. According to him, issues of herdsmen attacks, banditry, assasinations, cult activities, armed robbery and kidnapping were also reviewed based on briefings from security heads. He urged people of the state to volunteer intelligence to security agents for prompt action.

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr. Audu Bala Mohammed says, over 17 million insecticide treated nets ITNs have been distributed in six states of the federation.  The Coordinator who gave the hints during the organisation 2nd Bia-Annual media chat on Wednesday in Abuja, also said that, for Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) a preventive measure targeting children between 3 and 59 months of age within the Sahel  region, covering all the 9 state that had been planned to reach. The 9 States targeted were: Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.  He explained that Almost thirteen (13) million eligible children were reached. With respect to malaria case management available records from the district health information system (DHIS) showed a monthly average of 2,241,653 fever cases that reported at the health facilities nationally, of which 1,988,254 (88%) were tested. According to him, of

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigerian Air Force , Friday, decorated 47 senior officers with the ranks of Air Vice Marshal and Air Commodores.  The decorated AVMs and Air Cdres are among the 107 senior officers that were recently promoted to the of Air Vice Marshals ,Air Commodores, as well as other senior ranks by the NAF authorities. About 16 officers were decorated as Air Vice Marshals while another 31 officers being decorated as Air Commodores. Among the newly decorated to the rank of Air Vice Marshals include AVMs Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Abraham Adole, Tajudeen Yusuf and Akanbi Salami, among others. During the decoration ceremony in Abuja, the newly decorated officers were charged to justify the confidence reposed in them by redoubling their commitment and loyalty to the Service. While delivering his remarks, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, noted that in the military, promotion is usually a painstaking procedure th

By Doris Nnaji The federal government says it has put in place the machinery for receiving 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in early 2021. Faisal Shuaib, executive secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, broke the news at the presidential task force on COVID-19 media briefing in Abuja on Thursday. He said Nigeria is a member of COVAX, an international coalition, under the WHO umbrella. Shuaib added that 92 countries came together to ensure access and safety of vaccines. He said the expected 20 million doses will first be given to workers in the health sector and vulnerable citizens. “We are on course to access safe vaccine in the first quarter of 2021. We will be leveraging on the polio platform to ensure effective delivery of vaccines to our vulnerable population,” he said. “We have established a supra-ministerial advisory committee to ensure a seamless administration. A technical group meets every week and has devised a risk communication plan to deliver safe

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja John Olu Irefin, major-general and general officer commanding (GOC) six division, Port-Harcourt, Rivers state, has died of complications from COVID-19. The GOC was attending the annual chief of army staff conference in Abuja before he took ill and died. He was GOC 81 Division in Lagos before his posting to Port Harcourt this year. The conference has been cancelled by the army and participants comprising principal staff officers, GOCs, commandants of army schools, commanders of army operations have been asked to go into isolation for 14 days. Sagir Musa, acting director of army public relations, announced the cancellation of the conference in a statement on Thursday, saying it was to prevent any further spread of the disease. “The Nigerian Army wishes to inform members of the public that due to resurgence of COVID 19 Pandemic in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja in what appears to be a second wave of infection cycle and the unfortunate incident on

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters disclosed that, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE and 177 Battalion, conducted a daring dawn raid on a major armed bandits’/kidnappers’ hideout at Angwan Mada close to Tunga in Nasarawa LGA of Nasarawa State, neutralizing 2 notorious bandits in the process. The military disclosed on Thursday in a statement signed by the Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche in Abuja Enenche said, the raid which was conducted sequel to actionable technical and human intelligence on the location of the camp in the general area, also resulted in the recovery of 20 locally made rifles and other ammunition.  He stated that adopting an aggressive posture, the gallant troops tactfully assaulted the hideout, taking the bandits by surprise.  According to him, the gallant troops overwhelmed the bandits with effective fire and neutralized 2 of the criminals responsible for kidnappings and other crimes in the general area while  ot

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Benue State government and labour union leaders in Benue state have reached interim agreement on payment of the N30,000 national minimum wage to civil servants. Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Professor Anthony Ijohor, SAN, who briefed journalists today at the end of a meeting with the Benue State Government, said it was agreed that implementation for civil servants on grade levels one to six starts immediately. According to him, implementation for civil servants on grade level seven and above would be put on hold and discussions on same resume after detailed cleaning of the payroll which is currently ongoing. State Chairman Joint Negotiations Councils 1, 2 and 3, Comrade Ojema Ojotu in a remark said the union leaders agreed with the state government based on current realities including economic recession which had resulted to a drop in revenue accruals from federation account and the ongoing cleaning up of the payroll. He stated that labour

..Says, it's Baseless, clear desperation targeted at blackmailing the NM. DHQ By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters has dismissed recent report released  by Amnesty international,  describing it as baseless, mischievous, targeted at blackmailing the Nigerian Military.  In a statement signed on Wednesday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche in Abuja. Enenche described the claimed as unfounded, should be discountenanced and totally disregarded. The statement reads thus:  "The attention of the Nigerian Military has been drawn to the recent report released by Amnesty International (AI) in its chapter 3 as “Nigerian Military Crimes”.  "In as much as the Nigerian Military do not wish to join issues, it is imperative to clarify the air. In the first place, the so-called research does not meet the universal academic or global best practice criteria, of having the justifiable percentage of sample in the population, claimed to

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja israel flag An initial shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer arrived in Israel on Wednesday, the first of about 8 million Pfizer vaccines that the country is expected to receive. The Israeli health ministry said this in a statement. A DHL cargo flight from Belgium’s Brussels landed at the Ben Gurion airport outside Tel Aviv, carrying a small number of vaccines for a pilot run of the logistic of transportation and refrigerated storage procedure, statement said. “I believe in this vaccine,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the airport while receiving the vaccines.l He expected that the vaccine will receive the regulatory approvals “in the coming days.” Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said the vaccination “is one of the most important missions that Israel faces,” adding that “we see the beginning of the end” of the pandemic. On Thursday, another batch of tens of thousands of vaccines is expected to land in Israel, according to health of

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters says, In her efforts to rid Kaduna State and its environs of armed bandits and other criminal elements, the Air Component of Operation THUNDER STRIKE has obliterated another camp and neutralized several armed bandits at the Kusasu Area of Kaduna State.  In a statement signed on Tuesday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche in Ahuja said the feats was achieved through air strikes executed after Human Intelligence reports, corroborated by series of aerial surveillance missions, led to the identification of the camp of a bandits’ leader known as Alhaji Labi, an associate of Dogon Gede, a notorious bandits’ leader in Katsina State.  He said that accordingly, the Air Component dispatched an appropriate force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships to attack the location.  Disclosing that, overhead the target area, significant presence of the bandits, along with a lar

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters says, its Troops of Sector one, Operation WHIRL STROKE, has neutralized 3 armed bandits after a distressed call from Local vigilante members reporting ongoing attack by suspected armed herdsmen on Tsehombe-Adaka village.  This was contained in a statement signed on Monday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, DHQ, Maj. Gen. John Enenche in Abuja. Enenche said, the Troops immediately mobilized to the location leading to a shoot out between troops and armed bandits. According to him, the gallant troops overwhelmed the bandits by superior firepower, following which troops successfully neutralised 3 of the armed bandits while others escaped with  gunshot wounds.  Enenche disclosed that, Troops recovered one AK 47 rifle loaded with one magazine containing 5 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.  He maintained that, the gallant troops have continued to dominate the area with aggressive patrols to det

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters says its  Air Component of Operation Thunder Strike destroyed a camp and neutralized scores of armed bandits in air strikes executed at the Kuduru Forest area of Kaduna State.  This is just as it provided close air support to the Nigeria Police in a joint offensive operation to clear identified bandits’ hideouts in the Kofa Area of Kaduna State.  The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. Enenche said, the air interdiction mission at Kuduru Forest was carried out sequel to credible intelligence reports indicating that the group of heavily armed bandits responsible for a previous attack on troops at Ngede Allah had originated from a camp within the Forest. He noted that, following confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that led to the identification of the camp, the Air Component dispatched Nigerian Air Force (NAF) at

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai had on Saturday, laid the foundation of TY Buratai –International Golf Resort and Country Club (TYB–IRCC) house situated at Mambila Barracks, Abuja. The COAS, while performing the ceremony,  on friday in Abuja, was highly elated that his vision has transformed into a reality. Explaining Further, the COAS who is also the Life Patron of the TYB–IRCC said, the club has started yielding great benefit to the golfers comprising the NA officers and other services, paramilitary organisations and the generality of the public. Gen. Buratai who was delighted over the feat the club has progressively achieved within the few years of its existence even with the limited available resources, commended efforts made by the NA officers both serving and retired to the development of the club “It accords me much pleasure to see my noble vision finally transformed into reality. “I was convinced from

By Doris Nbaji   The family members of a 40-year-old man, Enuduisu Odili, who died in a brothel after reportedly engaging in a sex romp with a woman whose identity has yet to be ascertained have alleged foul play, demanding a thorough investigation by the police. The incident, it was gathered happened on Thursday on Azikiwe Street Mile 2, Diobu area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Although it is still unclear what happened between the deceased, who hailed from Delta State and his partner, it was learnt that he checked into the brothel on Thursday night, but was discovered dead on Friday morning. The younger brother of the deceased, Chukwuemeka Odili, who spoke with our correspondent in Port Harcourt on Saturday, on behalf of the family, said they suspected foul play. Chukwuemeka called on the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, and other security agencies in the state to unravel the mystery behind his brother’s death and ensure justice. He said, “We were shocked when we receive