Ortom Has Been a Great Governor To The Benue People -Group Says

A group, Coalition of Patriotic Idoma, Tiv, and Igede Youths in Nigeria (COPITIYN) has responded to a publication credited to a group, Tiv Youth Council Worldwide, describing it as malicious and mischievous.

The group in a statement obtained by TMS News signed by its National President, Comrade Aondona Tersoo, and its National publicity secretary Elijah Adamu said it is laughable for a group that does not reside in Benue and does not understand the yearnings of the people of Benue state to assume such a fallacious position.

COPITIYN said Governor Ortom has been a great leader to the people of Benue through thick and thin and deserves commendation instead of condemnation. It also said that even though the state like every other state in the country is struggling to meet certain financial obligations including pensions, it would be unfair to say that Governor Ortom has underperformed.

The statement reads in part;
“There is no state in Nigeria today that is not struggling financially including the more economically viable states. We want to state categorically that Ortom inherited backlogs of pensions from his predecessor.

“Ortom also inherited a state where insecurity has been the order of the day since 2015, this has negatively impacted the states’ meager resources as help hasn’t been forthcoming from Abuja to deal with the security challenges.

The group further said that only the living has the capacity to enjoy pensions.

“You need to be alive to enjoy pensions, those who have been killed by the terrorists ravaging our dear state cannot talk about pensions.

“Being alive is the primary thing and that is what Ortom has been working hard to ensure since he assumed office in 2015. Tersoo said.

While the group said it is not in support of pensioners who have served the state diligently being owed, it also questioned the sincerity of the Tiv Youth Council Worldwide, saying such a group is either not in touch with the existential reality in Benue or is just being economical with the truth.

“Where was the Tiv Youth Council Worldwide when Benue citizens were been massacred in large numbers? Why didn’t they lend their voice against the killings? Where were they when our leader, Governor Ortom narrowly escaped assassination?

“Their resurfacing at this time is clearly political and not in the interest of the Benue people.

COPITIYN also said that neither governor Ortom nor the Benue People have any problems living with peace-loving Fulani but that they have a problem with AK-47 wielding Fulani mercenaries who regularly attack communities in the state.

“We do not hate the Fulani, we have lived with some of them for many years peacefully and we appreciate their contribution to Benue state.

“We do have a problem with the Fulani mercenaries whose only desire is to cause tears, blood, and sorrow in Benue.” He said.

On the allegation that Ortom is obsessed with Buhari.

The group said the governor has the right to call out President Muhammadu Buhari if he deems it necessary, over his poor handling of the security situation in Benue and the general state of the nation Nigeria.

It also warned the Tiv Youth Council Worldwide to desist from making an inflammatory utterances that would further endanger the lives and properties of Benue citizens and other Nigerians.

Gunmen kidnap 4 women in Suleja

The Police Command in Niger on Thursday confirmed the abduction of four women  by gunmen at Haske Dabara community, Agwan Gwari Kwamba  of Suleja Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Monday Kuryas, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

“Yes it has happened at about 1 a.m. last night and already anti-kidnapping team, the army and vigilante had been deployed to rescue the victims.

“We will do everything humanly possible to apprehend all those miscreants undermining the peaceful coexistence among residents.

“I am appealing to residents, especially rural dwellers, to come forward with credible information on movement of strange faces among them to the nearest security personnel for necessary security action”, he said.

The commissioner solicited more working support by coming forward with intelligence information that could aid the security personnel deployed across the state in the ongoing fight against kidnapping, banditry and other criminal elements in the state.

An eyewitness said the gunmen entered the community at about 12.46 a.m. with gunshots that scared the residents.

(NAN

Terrorists abduct scores in Borno, free Muslims, take others away

Terrorists suspected to be ISWAP group on Tuesday evening abducted several passengers aboard 8 passenger vehicles along the dreaded Maiduguri-Damaturu express way after laying ambush on the road.

Vanguard news reported that the incident took place close to crossing point of terrorists near a bridge between Tamsu Kawu and Ndamdu town at about 3PM.

Vanguard also reported that most of the victims were freed by the terrorists after reciting some verses from the holy Qur’an confirming their Muslim identities. Three victims suspected to be Christians due to their inability to recite verses from the Qur’an were held by the terrorists.

Tamsu Kawu is just about 80km drive from Maiduguri and located north west, which has hitherto been razed down, before the former governor Kashim Shettima spent millions of naira, reconstructed and resettled it.

One of the victims who is a retired Director in the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Borno State confirmed that attack to vanguard under condition of anonymity.

He said, “it was when I was interrogated and the terrorists learnt that I was a diabetic patient, coupled with my old age that saved me, as the Commander of the terrorists told his members to allow me join those who were set free at about 7pm.”

He revealed that the terrorists during interrogations told them that they were among those who participated in the bloody killing of leader of Boko Haram sect, late Abubakar Shekau, adding that, they are members of the ISWAP group who are determined to protect the rights of innocent civilians.

“I have to thank Allah (God) for saving us from the hands of terrorists today.

“Our vehicle came into road ambush where several passengers and motorists aboard 8 different vehicles were abducted and taken to a nearby river at about 3PM

“After series of interrogations, many of us were released accept three persons who were detained for reason not based known to us.

“The terrorsists after interrogating us said that they were amongst those who killed Abubakar Shekau. They also said that they are out to protect all innocent civilians, accept those who chose to follow different faith or identified as infidels. ” he said.

The freed victim however said that he has since been reunited with his family, after the incident which lasted for about four hours.