JAMB Candidates Protest Inability To Register In Makurdi

Prospective candidates in the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) yesterday protested in Makurdi against their inability to register for the examination.The candidates blocked some major roads with bonfire as they marched to the JAMB office located along Inner Ring Road. They also took their protest to the governor’s office at Benue People’s House.



The protesters threw stones at the JAMB office before mobile policemen dispersed them.The Guardian learnt that they resorted to the protest because they could not process their registration at the Computer Based Test centres (CBTs) due to insufficient facilities.

The protesters urged the Federal Government to revert to the old system of registration due to the stress associated with the new method.The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, who addressed them at the Government House, urged the JAMB Registrar to open more centres to enable them to register for the examination.

Also, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Anthony Ijor appealed to them to be calm and promised to address their grievances.But, a senior JAMB official, Samuel Umoro, who admitted that there were some hitches, advised them to be patient, as all prospective candidates would be registered.

However, the board has described the report titled “JAMB Dump CBT, adopt eight keys,” published in one of the national dailies as a misinterpretation of information presented by the board’s registrar.

The Director of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in a statement made available to The Guardian said the board “would continue all its examinations with the CBT mode, as it was already consolidating on the gains earlier recorded.

According to Benjamin, the headline was not only misleading, but capable of causing panic, distortion and confusion in the minds of Nigerians,particularly the candidates planning to take the UTME examination of a well conceived CBT examination, which the board was consolidating on the gains and feat recorded.

ORTOM RESHUFFLES CABINET, RESTRUCTURES MINISTRIES, PORTFOLIOS

Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday announced a cabinet reshuffle with the former Commissioner of Youths and Sports, Mr Lawrence Onoja, jnr moving over to the Ministry of Information and Orientation.


His former ministry has been restructured to become the Bureau of Sports and Youth Development.
Similarly, the Bureau for Land and Survey has become the Ministry for Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals.

Eight commissioners have retained their ministries while the four sworn in yesterday were allocated portfolios.

Mr Michael Gusa is still Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner, Professor Dennis Anongo Ityavyar, Education, Science and Technology, Mr David Olofu, Finance and Economic Development, Mr James Anbua, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Cecilia Ojabo, Heath and Human Services, Mr Otokpa Onoja, Housing and Urban Development, Dr Tersoo Kpelai, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Emmanuel Manger, Works, Transport and Energy.

Those assigned new portfolios are Dr Terlumun Utsev, Water Resources and Environment, Mrs Isegbe Ajene Ladi, Women Affairs and Social Development, Comrade Joseph Shimaor, Arts, Culture and Tourism, and Bernard Unenge, Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals.

Twelve Special Advisers retained their portfolios.

These are Mr Titus Zam, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Simon Abua Yajir, Agro-business, Magdalyne Dura, Development Cooperation SDGS and NEPAD, Mr Matthew Mnyam, Education, Moses Oduh, Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr Tahav Agerzua, Media and ICT, Alhaji Isah Usman, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Saawuan Tarnongu, Politics and Intra-party Affairs, Rev Joseph Ogezi, Religious Affairs and Civil Society, Dr Adzer Abya, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Col Edwin Jando, retired, Security and Dr Bem Melladu, Economic matters.

Others have been assigned as follows. Mr Joseph Odaudu, Special Duties, Professor Jonathan Uever, Bureau of Sports and Youth Development, Dr Sunday Edor, Gender, Employment and Labour matters, Mr Godwin Idoko, Water and Environment, Dr Benjamin Ashaver, Youth Empowerment, Mr Igbarumun Igbudu, Revenue and Taxation, Mr Richard Gbaden, Works and Public Utilities and Mr Okoh Achegbulu, SMEs and Micro Financing.

Governor Ortom and his Deputy, Engr. Benson Abounu received gold medals from the Nigeria Handball Federation for hosting the recent tournament of the association.

Mr Lawrence Onoja, jnr, presented the medals.
The Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Dr Ojabo announced the restoration of accreditation to the School of Midwifery, Makurdi and approval to commence admission of 35 students.

Benue Killings: IGP Squad Promises To Eliminate Criminals In Benue State

https://youtu.be/w6CZSNoqFfE

The Police Joint Security Response Team led by the commissioner of the Mobile Police Force, Abuja, Mr Bello Ahmed, has promised to work with the state command to root out criminals from the area.

The team made the commitment while they met with the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, over the persistent crises in Buruku, Logo and Zaki Biam.

Mr Ahmed said: “Already, the security agencies in Benue are doing a wonderful job, I came here with my team to complement their efforts.

Meanwhile, the governor also used the opportunity to express his displeasure about the Rivers state governor’s statement, calling for emergency in the state.

“I pray for my colleague in Rivers state who, instead of sympathizing with me has chosen to call that Benue state should be declared a state of emergency when the killings in Rivers is more than what is happening here,” he stated.

This is coming in the face of several attacks that have claimed lives and property and the more recent attack in Zaki Biam town which claimed about 17 lives.

Following the incident, the governor had promised to increase the presence of joint security in the area to prevent further break down of law and order.

Some Element Plan To Scuttle My Move To Reconstruct Roads In Benue ~ Gov. Wike

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has lamented plans by some elements to scuttle his move to reconstruct two roads in Benue state as his rift with Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state continues.


Wike, yesterday raised the alarm over the plot to scuttle the multi-billion naira project.

Recall that during the weekend, Wike had said he would reconstruct the Makurdi-Naka-Adoka and the Aliade-Oju-Obarike-Ito-Otukpo roads in Benue State, as his contribution to alleviate the sufferings of the people of the state.

The Rivers State governor put the project cost at N4 billion.

Speaking yesterday, Wike alleged that some elements in Benue State were planning to disturb contractors he had already mobilised to sites.

He said, “We have mobilised the contractors to site, to reconstruct the two roads in Benue. But information reaching us indicates that there are plans to disturb the work.

“We want to get the road done as quickly as possible, but the plan to disturb the contractor is giving us some worries.

“Those who are planning this should bear in mind that they are working against development. The people of Benue, who use these roads, are suffering and we want to bring an end to this by reconstructing the roads. Those against the job should not be enemies of progress.”

Wike further said that the recent protest of pensioners in the state confirmed his earlier claim that the welfare of the people in Benue State has not received adequate attention from the government.

He added, “You must have heard that pensioners protested in Benue. They protested because they are being owed pension arrears. I have been vindicated. The Benue State government has failed in its duties.”

He called for declaration of a state of emergency in Benue State over what he described as the state government’s show of incapability in handling security matters.

He also called on the anti-graft agency to probe Ortom over the alleged wasteful use of Paris Club refund allocation.

Wike said despite the amount of money disbursed to Benue, the state government had not done much for the people.

He said Benue people are suffering “because they don’t have dividends of democracy.”

LG Pensioners Protest Nonpayment of 70 Months Pension Allowances in Benue

Local government pensioners in Benue state converged at the seat of government yesterday to protest nonpayment of their pension allowances and arrears running to 70 months.


The Chairman of the LG pensioners, Comrade Michael Vembe who spoke to the deputy governor, Engineer Benson Abounu who represented Governor Samuel Ortom explained many of his members are passing through terrible life due to nonpayment of their allowances and arrears.

The pensioners who carried placards with various inscriptions such as; ‘ pay us our pensions’,   ‘EFCC come and rescue  LG pensioners in Benue’,   ‘Gov Samuel Ortom  pay LG pensioners their pension arrears, and others in unison chorused ‘we need our entitlements to pay our children school fees’.

Vembe said that the protesters were in the group of local government retirees since 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 that were yet to be captured.

He added that some of the local government pensioners have not been captured and added that those who were captured could not benefit from the N200 million monthly the governor approved for pensioners because the fund was insufficient.

” I want to appeal to our governor to place us on monthly pension, the group of local government retirees who retired since 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 have not been captured”

He appealed to governor Ortom to grant approval of N70million only to place this category of pensioners on monthly pension allowance like those who have already been captured.

While responding, Governor Samuel Ortom who was represented by his deputy, Engineer Benson Abounu enjoined the protesters to exercise patience.

He assured them that the state government would release funds to them as soon as Paris Club fund is released.

“The governor asked me to meet with you and to tell you to exercise patient, we are expecting some funds from Paris Club as soon as the money comes we will address the issue”.

“We cannot say precisely when the money will come, actually we thought that the money would hit out bank last week but the minister of finance said there was paucity of funds, so anytime the money will come and we promise to pay something to alleviate your problems”, he concluded.

Why I Paid Herdsman N10million – Gov Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom, last week sat down for an interview where he responded to issues bordering on the call for the declaration of state of emergency in the state, the security situation in the state and his relationship with herdsmen.


Excerpts:

What is your reaction to the call by Governor Wike for the declaration of State of Emergency in Benue State? It is laughable and unfortunate because if you talk about declaring state of emergency because of killings I am aware that there are more killings in Rivers than Benue State. Here we know the rules while in Rivers State there is no rule of law. When you do things as if there is no leadership, you take laws into your hands, we don’t do that here and I will not subscribe to taking laws into my hands or anybody taking laws into his hands in Benue State. One thing I know is that we are on top of the situation we have found ourselves in. The issue of herdsmen we have brought it under control. The issue of criminality we have brought it under control. I inherited a state that was ravaged by criminality, killings, terror, assassinations and kidnappings. Gov Samuel Ortom When last did you hear that somebody was kidnapped in Benue State? When last did you hear armed robbery took place in Benue State? If you talk about rivalry between herdsmen and farmers it is not just peculiar to Benue State. We have sent a bill to the State House of Assembly. We are proposing that ranching is the option, no need for open grazing which even the herdsmen themselves confirmed. State of emergency And if you talk about the criminality of Gana who has been killing people all over, we have declared him wanted and we have even placed a reward on him. He has gone into hiding and we are appealing to people to avail us information. We are ready to take on him. I am in touch with the Inspector General of Police, I am in touch with the Chief of Army Staff, the Commandant of Civil Defence, the DSS Director General and security men have been provided for Benue State. We are going to have him. We are on top of our situation. If Wike wants state of emergency he should first of all declare his own state of emergency in Rivers State, not in Benue State. Benue State people are with me. We are proactive and we are on top of the situation here in Benue State and I can assure you with this renewed spate of attacks not from herdsmen, but from Gana who is killing people and because he is being sponsored by some people, we are going after him. I pray that what is happening around me here should not happen in any other state. I pray for Wike. I pray that God will help him succeed as a leader. But leaders should not come out to make such statements. I have inherited a state that is difficult and everyone knows. The whole country knows. I have inherited a state that is in deficit of over a hundred billion naira. Where do you start and we have been doing our best here. Since I came no one has gone on strike because the people appreciate what efforts we are doing here in Benue State. So it is an unfortunate thing but I will not join issues with him, I pray for him that God should help him in his endeavours.

Have you had issues with Governor Wike before now?

 I took it that it was political. He said it because I was on the delegation that was nominated by my party to solicit the support of the people in Rivers to win election. Is that a crime?

Have I committed a crime by going to support my party men to win election? I wasn’t the only one that went there. You can imagine a colleague lost a commissioner in Plateau State while he was jogging and you can imagine the sarcastic statement he has made about that. Herdsmen attending to their cows It is not fair. We shouldn’t as leaders begin to make such statements. It doesn’t give us anything good. But I leave Wike to his conscience. During the last administration during the height of Fulani attacks in the state, the then president sent in soldiers, do we see same happening now? Soldiers are already deployed here, I told you that I’m in touch with the Chief of Army Staff and on the directive of Mr. President we will have as many as we need depending on the situation on ground. Mr. President has directed that I should be supported and we have enough policemen here on ground, we have equipment, a chopper has been deployed here to support us. So I don’t think anything is out of place. We are on top of the situation and the killings we witnessed before are far more than what we are seeing today because of the proactive steps we have been taking to check the situation.

What is your response to allegations of the soldiers taking sides?

I am not aware of that. The soldiers are not taking sides as far as I am concerned. The soldiers I have here in Benue State as far as I know are very patriotic and they are civil. They have accepted the fact that we have a civilian government in place. Government is proactive and ready, we have enough personnel, and equipment to track these people. And where we are not able to track them we are even ready to pay for damages. Recently the case of a herdsman whose 57 cattle were killed and 50 rustled, was reported to me and paid N10million and even up till today we have not apprehended the youths behind the attack, but if we see them we will arrest them. But we had to pay just to allow peace to reign because if they come for reprisals those youths who did the evil will not be there. Instructions of government Those that would suffer will be vulnerable children, women and the elderly. So it’s a matter of simply listening to the instructions of government. When you have leaders and you respect and follow them things will work out. There is no way we will allow lawlessness to prevail in the land because people there will bear the consequences.

Are you not disturbed sir, that with the level of killings by herdsmen none of them has been prosecuted?

Well, I’m aware that we arrested some herdsmen with arms and they are being prosecuted. I can talk about my own state. But it is something we can all tackle together, the journalists, the people themselves all of us including the security agencies because most times journalists know where these criminals are but you will not volunteer information.

You said some persons are sponsoring Gana the wanted militant leader, who are his sponsors and their names?

No, it’s not every security matter that you say or discuss in public, I won’t say that for now but I have it in my chest.

Suswam Docked On Fresh N9.8 Billion Fraud Allegation

A former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, is in for another round of troubled waters as the Federal Government, on Monday, accused him and two others of diverting N9.79 billion.


The funds, part of which was meant for a police reform programme and Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, were allegedly diverted between 2012 and 2015 while Mr. Suswam was the governor of Benue State.

The SURE-P scheme was set up by the then President Goodluck Jonathan administration following the partial removal of fuel subsidy in 2012.

According to the Punch Newspaper, the allegations are contained in the 32 fraud and money laundering charges filed against Mr. Suswam and two others on Monday.

A former commissioner of finance in Benue State under the Suswam administration, Omadachi Oklobia, and the then accountant, Benue State Government House Administration, Janet Aluga, were also named as defendants in the charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/48/2017.

The prosecution accused the defendants of conspiracy, conversion of property derived directly from corruption; collaboration to conceal property derived from corruption; obtaining by false pretences and accepting cash payments, exceeding the amount authorised by law.

Earlier this year, a six-count charge bothering on alleged N7.5 billion fraud was filed against Mr. Suswam by the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The former governor was alleged to have conspired with Mr. Oklobia and Ms. Aluga to launder the money.

Messrs. Suswam and Oklobia are already standing trial before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the same division of the court for allegedly diverting about N3.1 billion, belonging to the Benue government.

I’M NOT SERVING WIKE, I WON’T JOIN ISSUES WITH HIM – ORTOM

After he held a security council meeting with stakeholders from Katsina-Ala, Ukum, Logo, and Kwande local government areas at the Benue Peoples House today, Governor Samuel Ortom interacted with journalists who asked questions about the meeting and other issues. Excerpts:



How was your meeting?

It’s been wonderful and we appreciate God, all of them were here as you can see and the meeting went on very well. It’s not just the traditional rulers but elders and other stakeholders from four local governments. We have agreed on the strategies to adopt. One of the most impressive things about this meeting is the fact that we’ve been able to identify the problem in Sankera. The issue is not communal clash, it’s not about the various local governments fighting one another, it’s about the criminal elements that are involved in this matter and we have identified them. We’ll go after them with the support of the security agencies and the communities and the traditional rulers and we will be able to fish them out. All that the criminals want to do is to put the people at logger heads and we have been able to identify that and we have agreed that we will not be taken into their trick to begin to fight one another. There is no point. We have identified those criminal elements because we are not ready to surrender the state to criminals to take over and continue to unleash terror on our people.

Having identified the culprits, how soon can Benue people in this area begin to sleep with their two eyes closed?

With immediate effect and with the support of Mr. President and the security agencies and with what I have now, I think we can contend with the situation but if I need more I will ask but so far, so good, they know and they are all on the run – the criminal elements. Once we have been able to identify them, we will sanction them according to the law. One thing I will continue to say is that people should not take law into their hands. We are law abiding citizens and we must continue to do the right thing at all times and report breaches and trespasses and infringements wherever you find them; whether it’s from the herdsmen, or from the farmers, report to us and we are ready to take on the criminal thing that is happening within the society. Like I keep saying, the issue of security is not just for government, it’s not just for security agencies; it’s for all of us. At least, when it comes to intelligence gathering, we must gather this information for security agencies to act upon. But when it is not reported, it becomes a little bit difficult and with the resolve we have had in this meeting, from that axis, I believe that we shall work together to achieve maximum security for our people.

Your counterpart from Rivers State fired another salvo today, that you should be probed…

Well, anybody could come and probe, I’m ready for any probe. I declared the Paris fund refund, I declared it; the bailout, I declared it and the account is there and anybody who wants it should come. I don’t want mixing issues with somebody who does not respect the rule of law. Like I said, he is not someone that I respect and I don’t want to join issues with him. Let him live in his own world. He is in Rivers State and I’m in Benue State and I’m presiding over the affairs of Benue State and the people are happy with me. As you can see in the various stakeholders’ meetings I call; each time I’m given a pass mark and they commend my efforts and I’m satisfied serving them. I’m not serving Governor Wike. I don’t want to join issues with him. Please I don’t want to entertain questions relating to him. I don’t want distraction.

Are you under pressure bringing the security situation under control?

Do you see me as someone under pressure? Look at me, I’m looking very okay and I’m not under pressure.

How is your governing party, according to Mr. President, getting prepared to conduct local government elections?

On local government elections – of course we are ready. We won election and this time around too the party is trying very hard. We are in touch with the people and I can assure you that we’re going to win in all the 23 local governments and in all the 276 council wards. I can assure you that we’re going to do that because we are on ground.

Can you update us on the security situation in Jato-Aka?

In Jato-Aka, the situation is under control, there was youth restiveness but it has been arrested. We are on top of it now and everything is normal, and activities will return back as normal.

There were killing and burning of villages in Jato-Aka. Are we going to stand back and watch this because our people did wrong?

What is government going to do to arrest this?

All these killings you people talk about, where are the killings? I’ve just held meetings with the traditional rulers from that area and nobody told me about killings. You are telling me and you know some of these things are not good for the image of the state, especially for those of you who are here. When you hear rumors, please seek to confirm.

I can’t just act on rumor that people are being killed. It is not the best. When you see pictures that people were killed in Kaduna and they say it is in Benue State; it is not fair to us. Please, let us try and verify some of these facts. We are on top of the situation.

I’ve just concluded a meeting with my Security Council and the entire traditional council from that area and nobody is talking about killings in that area. We recovered a gun which was missing from 93 battalion from that axis and handed it over to the Commander at 72 battalion here in Makurdi and we have not heard about reports of killings.

Benue Institutions Get N3b From TETFUND

Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Dr. Abdullahi Baffa has appealed to Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, to monitor the N3 billion released to its higher institutions.


TETFund released the money to the State University, Federal University of Agriculture, the state-owned Colleges of Education, Oju and Katsina-Ala, and the Benue Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, for infrastructure development.

Baffa spoke when he visited Ortom at the Benue People’s House, yesterday.
The schools also got money to train their teachers.

According to Baffa, TETFund believes in training teachers and making the environment conducive for learning. He praised Ortom for his peace efforts since assuming office.

Ortom assured Baffa he would personally monitor the projects for which the funds were released.

He said his administration abhors corruption, and reiterated his call on members of his cabinet to go into business if they want quick money.

Explosives found at church in Jos, central Nigeria: Police

Jos: Explosives were found at a church in the central Nigerian city of Jos on Sunday, police and the Red Cross told AFP, adding that the device went off but there were no casualties.

"It was averted because the bomb was detected by the church's security personnel. There were no casualties," said Emmanuel Abuh, spokesman for the state police in Plateau, of which Jos is the capital.
The Nigerian Red Cross said the explosion happened at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) premises in the Tudun Wada area of the city, near the building's toilet.
"There was no one there and so no injured and no dead," spokesman Nwakpa Okorie Nwakpa said in a text message.
The incident in the north of the city came a week after a suicide bomber blew himself up at a church in the northeastern city of Potiskum, killing the pastor and four other worshippers.
Jos was also targeted last Sunday by Boko Haram militants who fired on a mosque, including with a rocket-propelled grenade. They also hit a restaurant popular with travellers from the restive northeast.
The twin attack left 51 dead and 47 injured.
Boko Haram will likely come under suspicion for the latest incident, as it has repeatedly hit both churches and mosques in the past.
The Islamists claimed a failed suicide attack in the northeastern city of Maiduguri that killed two people yesterday and a suicide bombing in Chad's capital, N'Djamena that left 15 dead.

Gas inhalation kills eight and 100 hospitalised in Nigeria's Jos

Jos, Nigeria: Eight people were killed and around 100 needed hospital treatment after inhaling chlorine gas following an explosion at a water treatment plant in Jos, a city in central Nigeria, the state government said on Saturday.

A chlorine cylinder exploded at the Lamingo Water Board treatment plant around 4 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Saturday, Plateau state spokesman Samuel Nanle said.
"Eight people have been confirmed dead as a result of the inhalation of the contaminated air," he said, adding that 101 people had received hospital treatment for chlorine inhalation.
"The contamination has been contained and does not affect the water which has been supplied to public mains.

Herdsmen Invade Benue Prison, Kill Inmate

The Benue Prisons Service on Monday confirmed that herdsmen invaded its Jato-Aka Farm Centre and killed an inmate, one Tersoo Agidi.


ASP Stephen Nwanchor, Public Relations Officer, Benue Prisons Service, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi that the incident took place on Saturday at the farm centre.

Nwanchor said that the invasion was not a failed jail break attempt.

“This is a new farm centre established in January, 2017. The herdsmen invaded the place, destroyed property, shot and killed one Tersoo Agidi, an inmate.

“We have evacuated all the remaining inmates from the farm centre to Gboko, pending the outcome of the investigation.

“We are not taking anything for granted. My Controller of Prison is on top of the issue, and all relevant security operatives in the state have been notified,” Nwanchor said.

The PRO said the service was investigating the invasion to ascertain the remote cause, noting that no arrest had been made so far.

Nwanchor said the service had tightened security in and around all its facilities in the state, assuring that there was no cause for alarm.

Herdsmen attack had been on increase in the last twelve months especially in the North central states.

Controversy Trails Change Of Benue Anti-Grazing Bill To Contentious Livestock Promotion Bill

A major controversy appears to be brewing in Benue State over the change in the content and title of the Open Grazing Prohibition Bill recently sent to the legislative by the executive in the state.


The revelation was made by the State House of Assembly, after the letter sent by the executive substituting the earlier bill with the contentious livestock promotion bill was read in the Assembly.

The State Government, however, denied any external influence leading to the change as alleged in some quarters.

The executive added that the new version was drafted to accommodate more views in the bill.

Police Confirm 18 Dead, 3 Arrested in Zaki-Biam Attack

The Police in Benue State yesterday confirmed 18 people dead and three people arrested in connection with the Monday attack on famous Zaki-Biam international yam market in Ukum LGA of Benue State.


Locals earlier alleged that death toll rose to 52 after more victims of the attacks died in their homes and some corpses later discovered in nearby bushes, but the state Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, told our correspondent yesterday that 17 deaths were recorded on Monday while one other person died from a similar attack in a surrounding community of Zaki Biam on Tuesday, bringing the total to 18.

Makama said that investigation was going on to ascertain the identity and motives of those behind the crime.

Locals said the gunmen invaded the market with at least 12 Bajah motorcycles and four Toyota Corrolla about 3:00pm on that fateful Monday and shot sporadically.