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| GUARDIAN | 3 JUNE 2025 | Osun State Govt sues FG over withheld local govt allocations, berates AGF for 'unconstitutional' action. Recall that the AGF had directed that funds be withheld over protracted battle between PDP and APC on LG leadership. | Against the backdrop of the recent stoppage of monthly allocations for local councils in Osun State, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, took on the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, declaring that his directive was an affront to the nation’s constitution. It would be recalled that the Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, had recently directed relevant stakeholders to withhold February, March, April and May allocations accruable to the councils following the protracted battle over the control of the councils between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP. However, while reacting to the development, the PDP in the state, in a statement signed by its Media Director, Oladele Bamiji, chided Fagbemi over what he termed gross abuse of office and high-handedness. He said that the AGF’s action portrays not just a conflict of interest but also a dangerous erosion of the doctrine of separation of powers, which forbids him from usurping judicial powers not vested in him by law. MEANWHILE, the Osun State Government has taken the Federal Government to the Supreme Court for allegedly seizing the monthly allocations accruing to the councils. The suit, dated April 23, 2025, and filed by counsel to the Attorney General of Osun State (plaintiff), Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), has the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as the sole defendant. The state government urged the Supreme Court for an order directing the Federal Government to release the seized funds and to also restrain it from further withholding, suspending and seizing fund allocations to the local councils in the state, among others. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case. HOWEVER, the state government has accused Fagbemi and the immediate past governor of the state and incumbent Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, of colluding and denying the state of its councils’ allocations for three months. The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, alleged that Oyetola had vowed to destabilise governance in the state. Alimi alleged that Oyetola connived with Fagbemi to withhold the allocations of the councils. BUT reacting, the leadership of the APC in the state justified the allocations’ seizure and advised members of the public to ignore the line of last resort of the ruling PDP. APC’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, in a statement, yesterday, wondered how “the same PDP-led government, which has denigrated the Court of Appeal judgment, is now calling for a rule of law, which has never changed, but strictly observed by the Federal Government in its doings.” | OSUN STATE; LOCAL GOVERNMENT; 1999 CONSTITUTION; PDP; APC | GUARDIAN | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 3 JUNE 2025 | "Wike should have proved his loyalty to PDP by paying the 7 million owed as ground rent," Bode George retorts as Nigerians criticize Wike for wasting state resources on media chat | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), struggling with internal divisions and an identity crisis post-2023, faces another challenge as a public exchange of accusations between Chief Olabode George and Nyesom Wike lays bare a deepening rift that could jeopardise the party’s prospects for 2027. In an interview yesterday, Wike launched a scathing attack on the member of the PDP Board of Trustees, accusing him of leaving “nothing to show” for the various positions he (George) has held over the years. The former Rivers governor implied that George had become a spent force within the PDP, contributing little to its relevance or structure. In a swift rebuttal, George fired back, describing Wike’s comments as not only “unfounded” but also reflective of his “political immaturity and historical ignorance.” According to George, Wike lacks the institutional knowledge to appreciate the groundwork laid by founding PDP members, particularly in the South-West, a region where George played a key role in party building and electoral strategy. “Wike is too young in the party to know what we did to build this structure. The foundation of PDP in the South-West, the stability we had—I was part of that. He should not throw stones when he does not understand the house,” George said. Despite their personal animosity, both men agree on one major issue: the need to zone the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket to the South. George described it as a matter of equity and federal character, especially given the North’s recent dominance under Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy in 2019 and 2023. However, George faulted Wike’s aggressive posture in pushing the zoning debate, warning that the minister’s approach could alienate stakeholders rather than build consensus. “There’s a way to fight for justice without destroying the house. Wike’s method is combative and could end up being counterproductive,” he said. The zoning issue is at the heart of the PDP’s post-2023 crisis. The refusal of the party’s leadership to zone the 2023 ticket to the South fractured the party, giving rise to the G-5 governors’ rebellion, spearheaded by Wike, and weakening the opposition’s showing at the polls. George was emphatic in blaming former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu for the party’s electoral misfortunes. “They ignored wise counsel. They rode roughshod over our constitution and internal zoning arrangement. That’s why the house collapsed,” he said. Indeed, Ayu’s refusal to step down after Atiku emerged as presidential candidate, despite the widespread southern agitation for regional balance, proved toxic for party unity. The decision drove a wedge between the leadership and key stakeholders, especially in the South. Another contentious issue further dividing the party is the national secretaryship. Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who left the position to contest the Imo State governorship election in 2023, has returned to reclaim the seat—a move George described as “a constitutional aberration.” “You cannot abandon your office, contest a governorship election, lose, and return to take up your former seat as if nothing happened. It sets a dangerous precedent,” he said, expressing shock that Wike would support such an “illegal manoeuvre.” The controversy has drawn legal and political challenges from other South-East PDP leaders, particularly from Abia State, which believes it should nominate the next secretary based on internal zoning arrangements within the zone. To address these multiple crises, the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) recently inaugurated a Convention Planning Committee to manage leadership transitions and review zoning formulas ahead of the 2027 elections. However, even this move has failed to inspire widespread confidence. George expressed scepticism, warning that unless due process and inclusivity are ensured, the committee could worsen tensions. “What we need now is caution. This is not the time for impunity or rubber-stamped decisions. The party must listen to the grassroots and elders,” he said. The PDP, once the largest political party in Africa, has suffered a series of debilitating losses since its fall from power in 2015. The 2023 elections exposed further cracks, including defections, court-ordered congress reversals, and a credibility deficit among the youth and civil society. For the PDP to survive, George said the party must urgently reform its internal processes, enforce discipline, and restore faith in its zoning agreement and internal democracy. Wike rebukes George over comments on PDP’s unpaid ground rent THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, criticised Bode George for suggesting that Wike should have settled the party’s unpaid ground rent to demonstrate his loyalty. George, speaking last Tuesday, said the payment of the debt, which led to the sealing of the PDP’s national secretariat, would have showcased Wike’s commitment as a significant beneficiary of the party. However, during Wike’s interview, he dismissed the suggestion, stating that neither he nor George could pay the debt as it was not in their names. He also alleged that George himself owes the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). “I read what he said. If an old man has no job, sit down in your house and read newspapers,” Wike remarked. He acknowledged the role of the PDP in his political rise, saying, “Bode George said the PDP made me, and PDP gave me a national name. I agree. A party cannot make you; you are the one that will make the party popular to win an election.” Wike contrasted his contributions to the PDP with George’s, asserting that while he had worked tirelessly to ensure the party’s dominance in Rivers State and at the national level, the same could not be said for Lagos, George’s political base. “Ask Bode George, ‘Who did the PDP make in Lagos since 1999?’ Not anyone. Meanwhile, in your state, the party every day is crying, complaining from 1999. Even when we were in power, we knew what we did to try to make sure PDP took over Lagos. It didn’t work; even when Jonathan came, it didn’t work,” Wike said. George, in his remarks on Channels Television’s Politics Today on May 29, 2025, had expressed disappointment over Wike’s role in the FCTA’s actions, saying: “What is N7 million? He should have just said to them, ‘Okay, N7 million, I’ll pay from my pocket. Take the receipt back to the party’s secretariat. You see, you people are foolish.’ “‘I’m completely committed to this house; I am completely loyal to this house. I will not decimate it. This is the receipt, give me back my money.’ That is what you call a true son of that family,” George added. Wike denounces alleged plot to remove PDP national secretary, vows to stay in party The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has criticised what he described as an illegal and politically motivated attempt to remove the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Wike also firmly declared that no amount of pressure would push him out of the party he has long supported and helped build. Speaking during his monthly media briefing, Wike accused some party leaders of orchestrating a crisis to oust the National Secretary, emphasising that Anyanwu was democratically elected at a national convention, not appointed. “You cannot just wake up and say a National Secretary should go. Who gave that order?” Wike asked. “He was elected, not appointed. So if someone is to leave, it should be those who believe in impunity, not someone elected by the entire party.” Wike linked the controversy to broader efforts within the PDP to sideline him and distort internal agreements previously reached among key stakeholders. He recounted meetings in Lagos, at his Abuja residence, and at the home of former Senate President Bukola Saraki, where consensus was supposedly reached to maintain unity within the party’s leadership ranks. “Those same individuals who were part of these agreements later turned around to undermine them for personal political gains. What kind of politics is that?” Wike questioned. Visibly agitated, Wike warned against what he called manipulations by “undertakers” within the party. “This impunity and injustice will not stand. PDP is not anyone’s personal property. I will continue to speak the truth,” he said. Addressing calls for his exit from the PDP, Wike was emphatic. “I am not the one to leave the party. If you’re uncomfortable with truth, principles, and justice, then you leave. I won’t,” he stated. The minister criticised the constitutionality of the last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which reportedly discussed Anyanwu’s removal. He argued that no valid notice was issued by the Secretary himself, as required by party rules. “They claimed there was a NEC meeting, but who issued the notice? The Secretary didn’t. Under our party constitution, he is the only one who can do that,” Wike explained. He said attempts to remove Anyanwu without due process amounted to a disregard for the rule of law. “The Secretary is not dead, not sick. He hasn’t resigned. So, why try to push him out? If you’re doing that, then you’re killing the very soul of the PDP,” Wike warned. Wike also criticised the PDP’s declining influence in its South-South strongholds, citing Delta and Akwa Ibom as examples. He blamed the leadership for failing to address intelligence about waning support in these areas. “You had intelligence that Delta was slipping, Akwa Ibom too. What did you do? Nothing. Instead of engaging, you said, ‘Let them go.’ That’s not how an opposition party survives,” he stated. …Defends support for Tinubu, denies being liability to PDP The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, defended his continued support for President Bola Tinubu while remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. He insisted he is an asset to the party and the nation’s political structure. “I am not a liability. I am an asset. Whether you agree or not, whether you like me or not, it doesn’t matter. I am an asset to this country’s political structure,” Wike said during his media chat. Wike also dismissed allegations that he is fuelling a crisis in Rivers State or working against the state’s Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. He expressed frustration over being vilified by those he once supported. “There’s no crisis from my side. I gave my all — support, resources, everything — to ensure success, and what do I get in return? Betrayal. It’s like raising a son who turns around to shoot you,” he said, speaking in a personal tone. The minister accused some within the PDP of engaging in deceit and manipulation, urging transparency. “Let the public know what’s going on. Deny what I said, not insult me. That’s what matters. You don’t protect a party by covering up lies. You protect it by standing on truth,” he said. Wike warned against arbitrary decisions and political impunity within the party, vowing to fight for its survival. “This party will not die. Not on our watch. We’ll fight to keep it alive, and no one — I repeat, no one — can force me out of it,” he declared. Social critic accuses Wike of extravagant spending on media chats A social critic, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of spending hundreds of millions of naira monthly on what he described as an ostentatious media chat. Ejiofor argued that such an exercise, aside from offering little or no substance, reflects misplaced priorities at a time when many Nigerians face harsh economic realities. In a press statement, the former lead lawyer for the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) said it is regrettable that as millions of Nigerians grapple with record inflation, stagnant wages, and deepening poverty, Wike is engaging in what he termed an unnecessary extravagance. The statement, titled ‘Extravagance in a time of hardship – President Tinubu must curb FCT Minister Wike’s costly media show,’ described the monthly broadcast as “a tone-deaf misuse of public funds,” especially in a country where many citizens survive on less than $2 per day and access to basic healthcare, education, and shelter remains a struggle. Ejiofor highlighted the potential impact of reallocating the funds used for these media chats. “The cost of one media edition could fund emergency relief and shelter for thousands displaced by the recent floods in Niger State. It could refurbish crumbling primary schools, equip rural clinics, or sustain nutrition programs in IDP camps for several months,” he said. He further criticised the optics and implications of such spending. “Nigerians are not asking for a televised circus – Nigerians are crying out for competent governance, prudent spending, and people-centred leadership,” Ejiofor stated. Calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, Ejiofor urged the administration to rein in the FCT Minister’s spending and redirect focus to service delivery. “This is not a time for flamboyance and fanfare. It is a moment that demands humility, responsibility, and an unwavering commitment to the public good. Nigeria deserves better. The time to act is now,” he concluded. | PDP; BODE GEORGE; NYESOM WIKE; STATE RESOURCES | GUARDADIAN | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 3 JUNE 2025 | JUSUN strike hits Abuja, grounds courts. JUSUN is demanding the payment of a five-month wage award, the implementation of the proposed ₦70,000 national minimum wage, and a 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increment under the Consolidated Judicial Salary Structure. | Court activities in Abuja were brought to a halt, yesterday, following the commencement of an indefinite strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN). As early as 7 a.m., the gates of key courts—including the Court of Appeal and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Courts in Maitama, Wuse Zone 2, Garki, and Nyanya—were under lock and key, with union members enforcing the strike directive. The industrial action follows a circular issued by the union on May 30, directing all federal chapters to embark on a strike from midnight of Sunday, June 1. The circular, signed by JUSUN General Secretary, M.J. Akwashiki, instructed members to stay at home, citing the government’s failure to meet long-standing demands. JUSUN is demanding the payment of a five-month wage award, the implementation of the proposed ₦70,000 national minimum wage, and a 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increment under the Consolidated Judicial Salary Structure. | JUSUN; ABUJA; STRIKE; | GUARDIAN | ||||
| VANGUARD | 3 JUNE 2025 | JUSUN suspends strike after deliberations | The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on Tuesday suspended its strike, which started on Monday. JUSUN announced the suspension in a communiqué issued after it met with the representatives of the Chief Judge of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. The communique signed by all shareholders present, said this was after long deliberations on issues that led to the declaration of the industrial action by the union. According to the communique, the following agreement was reached; that the JUSUN oblige the intervention of CJN, Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, NLC and other Stakeholders one month for negotiations. ”Engage the Federal Government to release funds to the Judiciary within one month, and that upon the release of the funds, the demands by the JUSUN be implemented immediately.” The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JUSUN’s demands include the implementation of the N70, 000 new minimum wage and its arrears, 25’35 per cent salary increase and five months wage award and their arrears. The communique added that consequently upon the commitment of the CJN, JUSUN and organs after due consideration agreed to suspend the ongoing industrial strike action. The union therefore, directed its members to resume work on Wednesday. | JUSUN; SUSPENSION | VANGUARD | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 4 JUNE 2025 | Rivers Crisis: Suspended Governor, Fubara, visits Tinubu in Lagos, reason for visit unknown | Suspended Governor of Rivers State, MrSiminalayiFubara on Tuesday visited President Bola Tinubu at his Ikoyi private residence in Lagos. In the course of the visit, the President held a closed-door meeting with Fubara, marking the first publicly known meeting between the two since Fubara’s suspension in March, 2025. Sources said the ‘crucial’ meeting may not be unconnected with resolving the political crisis in Rivers state ahead of the expiration of the six-month emergency rule in September, 2025. Photographs released by the State House Media Unit showed the President and Fubara smiling for the cameras although details of their discussion were yet to be disclosed. President Tinubu had on March 18, 2025 declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State suspending Fubara, the deputy governor, NgoziOdu, and all elected members of the state assembly. The move followed escalating political and economic tensions in the oil-rich state. The suspension was met with stiff opposition and criticism from Fubara’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party and civil society groups, who argue that the President’s unilateral action undermines democratic governance. Also on Tuesday, President Tinubu received in audience at his Lagos private residence billionaire founder of Bill Gates Foundation and Co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates. During the visit, President Tinubu conferred the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on Gates who was accompanied by Africa’s richest man and Nigeria’s billionaire business mogul, AlhajiAlikoDangote. The President thereafter decorated Gates with the national award as well as presenting him with the award certificate. | RIVERS CRISIS; TINUBU; LAGOS; BOLA TINUBU; | THISDAYLIVE | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 4 JUNE 2025 | APC dashes hopes of opportunists, says no automatic tickets for National Assembly members | The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has ruled out automatic tickets for its first term members at the National Assembly. The APC National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka, in a statement said the party would not give automatic tickets to federal lawmakers who are members of the party as reported by an online medium. Sequel to the recent defections from the opposition parties, APC is leading in the Senate with 68 senators out of 109 members and over 200 in the 360-member House of Representatives. Also, there has been influx of opposition leaders into the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections. | APC; AUTOMATIC TICKETS; NATIONAL ASSEMBLY | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 4 JUNE 2025 | Uncovering Systemic Fraud in Nigeria: Ex-EFCC Chair, Abdulrasheed Bawa, exposes fuel subsidy scam in new book | Although subsidization of petroleum products ended with the coming of the President Bola Tinubu administration in 2023, its impact especially, as a tool of shortchanging and diverting huge sums of revenue would take a very long time to go away. Among the latest to expose how some corrupt government officials connived with some private importers of fuel to dupe the nation is a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), AbdulrasheedBawa. The former boss of the anti-graft agency in a groundbreaking new book titled ‘The Shadow of Loot & Losses: Uncovering Nigeria’s Petroleum Subsidy Fraud’, revealed some of the strategies used by fraudsters to fraudulently obtain trillions of Naira from the federal government. The book, published by CableBooks, an imprint of Cable Media & Publishing Ltd, provided the most authoritative account yet of Nigeria’s multi-trillion-naira fuel subsidy scandal, unraveling the inner workings of one of the country’s most pervasive financial crimes. According to a statement released by the publishers, Bawa drew from his firsthand experience as a key investigator on the EFCC’s special team that probed the 2012 subsidy fraud. “Bawa reveals the staggering scale, complexity, and audacity of the schemes used to siphon public funds under the guise of fuel subsidy payments. “His insider narrative chronicles how billions of naira were recovered and several culprits brought to justice, while also shedding light on how entrenched corruption allowed the fraud to flourish for years”, the statement released to journalists on Tuesday, read in part. The statement signed by Vic Akinrogunde, disclosed that some of the strategies used by the perpetrators of the fuel subsidy scam included but not limited to: “Ghost importing and over-invoicing: Companies submitted claims for fuel that was never imported or inflated shipment volumes to receive excessive subsidy payouts. “Manipulation of bills of lading: By altering shipping documents, fraudsters exploited international price fluctuations to claim higher subsidies. “Round-tripping and double claims: Single shipments were often used to obtain multiple subsidy payments. “Diversion and smuggling: Subsidised fuel was frequently diverted to black markets or smuggled out of Nigeria for profit”. The former EFCC boss further disclosed that the above fraudulent practices, were enabled by forged documents, weak regulatory oversight, and systemic collusion between corrupt government officials and private sector actors, adding that the book is not just a chronicle of fraud, but, “a call to action – a demand for transparency, accountability, and reform in Nigeria’s public finance management, especially in the oil sector.” Akinrogunde stated that having served as EFCC chairman from 2021 to 2023, Bawa brings rare credibility and insight into the institutional challenges and political dynamics that have shaped the anti-corruption fight in Nigeria. “His book is both a revelation and a reckoning – offering evidence-based analysis and personal reflections on one of the most controversial chapters in Nigeria’s recent history. “The Shadow of Loot & Losses” is essential reading for policymakers, civil society advocates, journalists, and citizens interested in understanding how systemic fraud undermines development and how it can be confronted”, the statement added. | EFCC; TINUBU; FUEL SUBSIDY; | THISDAYLIVE | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 4 JUNE 2025 | Chief of Staff 'relocates’ to Benue to lead offensive against marauding Invaders | The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, on Tuesday temporarily relocated to Benue State to oversee military operations aimed at restoring security following incessant attacks that have left at least 270 people dead in Benue State in just two months, Lt. Gen. Oluyede arrived Benue on Tuesday morning with a delegation of Principal Staff Officers and senior personnel from Army Headquarters, as part of an urgent intervention amid escalating violence across 10 local government areas. Upon arrival, the Army Chief held a closed-door meeting with Governor Hyacinth Alia at the Government House in Makurdi, after which he was scheduled to visit communities worst hit by the attacks, many of which were reportedly carried out by armed attackers. Governor Alia, who later briefed traditional and security councils on the outcome of the meeting, described the Army Chief’s visit as a “message of hope” for Benue people. He said Lt. Gen. Oluyede had also conveyed condolences from the federal government and assured intensified efforts to halt the bloodshed. Traditional rulers, including the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse; the Och’Idoma, Dr. John Eliagwu (represented by Chief George Edeh); other chiefs; and heads of security agencies attended the briefing. 270 killed in 61 days across 10 LGAs A review of incidents from April 1 to June 1, 2025, shows that at least 270 lives were lost in sustained armed attacks across 10 LGAs. Our correspondent reports that the latest incident, on June 1, claimed 43 lives in Gwer West and Apa LGAs alone, making it one of the deadliest days in recent memory. The Sankera axis comprising Katsina-Ala, Logo, and Ukum LGAs recorded the highest fatalities with 83 deaths reported in a five-day spree between April 17 and April 21. In Otukpo LGA, at least 16 people were killed in separate attacks from April 4 to May 7. Local sources however believed the actual death toll may be higher, as attacks in remote villages often go unreported. Security expert warns relocation may not be enough Security analyst and retired DSS director, Orgem Angulum, questioned the effectiveness of relocating high-ranking officers during crises, citing similar strategies that failed in other conflict-prone states. “Relocation of security heads hasn’t yielded desired results in places like Borno or Plateau,” Angulum sad. He added that, “What’s urgently needed now is a national security summit. We must rethink our strategy, especially on how we secure reclaimed areas after repelling attackers.” He emphasised the need for holding territory after raids, rather than leaving vulnerable communities exposed to repeated attacks. “We have tried the issue of relocating a security head in Borno, in Plateau and elsewhere and it hadn’t worked. So, if I’m to advise the government, by now, the government should have been thinking of national security summit. And then, the government would have changed tactics like why have we failed in Borno? Why have we failed in Plateau? Why have we failed in part of Northwest? The government would have by now changed tactics. “At least for the security operatives, if you go where these things are happening, you shouldn’t just be repelling these people (bandits). If you repel these people, you should equally take charge of these places to ensure that those places become secure before the security leave the area. But in a situation where you hear that there is attack in a particular place, then police and army, everybody comes and the moment they repel those people, they leave the villagers to their fate, it’s wrong. “So, I think the government should better be thinking now how to convene a national security summit where all relevant security stakeholders from across the states would come and brainstorm and find a solution to the spate of insecurity if not we are heading towards anarchy,” Angulum warned. Senators Kalu, Moro decry insecurity Prominent lawmakers like Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North) and the Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Moro, have weighed in on the crisis, urging government to quickly do the needful. Kalu called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider sacking underperforming ministers and service chiefs to reinvigorate national security efforts. Senator Moro (PDP, Benue South) on the other hand, described the killings as a “Slide toward anarchy” and urged both federal and state governments to take swift and decisive action. “Our people must be protected. The rights to life and freedom of movement must not only be acknowledged but guaranteed,” Moro said while condoling families of victims. He, however, welcomed the Chief of Army Staff, Oluyede, to Benue, saying the COAS relocation to the state over sustained attacks on communities by armed invaders would yield positive results. The senator saluted the army boss’s decision, describing it as ‘timely’ and that the presence of the army chief in the state will stem the tides of the attacks and restore relative peace. Moro in a statement by his media adviser, Emmanuel Eche’Ofun John, assured of his full support and the cooperation of his constituents to nip the tetra-headed monster in the bud. Women protest shelved amid fear of infiltration Tensions, however, remain high in Apa LGA, where 25 people were reportedly killed on Sunday in the Ankpali-Edikwu community while another 18 were killed in Naka, headquarters of Gwer West LGA, on the same day. Our correspondent reports that in response, women under the banner Voice of the Hopeless Women planned a peaceful protest but later cancelled it over fears of being hijacked by hoodlums. Chairman of Apa LGA, Adams Ocheiga, confirmed the development, saying calm had returned “for now,” though the situation remained volatile. He also noted that, as of Tuesday morning, he had yet to see actual police deployment in the area. “We can’t predict the next second,” he warned. Ocheiga added that though the women gathered for the protest match, however they could not proceed with it as they were advised that hoodlums could take advantage of the situation to perpetuate crime. Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command, in a statement on Tuesday, confirmed the deployment of tactical teams to both Apa and Gwer West LGAs with the Commissioner of Police, CP Emenari Ifeanyi, reportedly relocating the Area Commander to Apa, while the tactical unit had been directed to take over operations in Naka, the Gwer West LGA headquarters. Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said officers had repelled several attacks over the past month but that armed groups continued to exploit gaps in security. However, Governor Alia has vowed not to relent. In his verified Facebook post, he stated: “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the loss of 23 innocent lives; 12 in Apa and 11 in Gwer West. These killings are unacceptable. I have ordered joint forces to sweep the affected areas and restore peace. We will not fold our arms while our people are slaughtered.” In the meantime, as the army chief takes charge on the ground, residents remain hopeful but cautious that the latest intervention may mark a turning point in the unending cycle of bloodbath in the state. For many, however, peace seems increasingly unattainable unless matched by strong resistance through the involvement of locally armed groups. | COAS; BENUE; INSECURITY | DAILYTRUST | ||||