Nigerians' Wastage The Cause Of Energy Shortage In The Country - Prof. Bala

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Nigerians' Wastage The Cause Of Energy Shortage In The Country - Prof. Bala

Director General of Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Prof. E. J. Bala on Wednesday said shortage of energy in Nigeria was as a result of wastage by Nigerians and not paucity of supply.

He added that the economy of the country solely rested on energy, adding that the more energy available for consumption, the better for the economy.

Bala, who was represented by the Director, Energy Planning in the commission, Engr. Joseph Olayande, was speaking on the theme, “The Challenges of Energy Planning for Ensuring Enhanced National Energy Supply, at the Osun State University, Osogbo, during a 2-day workshop organised by ECN in conjunction with Osun State University and Mwayi Investment Ltd.

“The purpose of this workshop is to introduce and sensitize the state, local governments and academia in Nigeria about energy planning activities to anticipate energy challenges.

“As population is growing, our demand is increasing. The participants would learn how to introduce energy efficiency and observation in their planning so that we can effectively and efficiently utilise what we have without wastage.

“The complaints about shortage of energy in Nigeria can not hold water, the real problem is wanton wastage of available energy by Nigerians,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Labode Popoola, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Clement Adeboye in his earlier remarks observed that the strength of the developed countries of the world lied in energy-driven technology.

“Energy improves the livelihood of the people. The difference between the developed and developing countries is technology. Ability to transform knowledge into manifestation is the only thing that can promote the society,” he said

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Nigerian Cleric Urges Lawmakers To Criminalize Ethnic And Tribal Sentiment

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Nigerian Cleric Urges Lawmakers To Criminalize Ethnic And Tribal Sentiment

 

The General Overseer of Hour of Mercy Prayer Ministries Worldwide. (Ori oke Alaseyori) Prophet Moses Muyideen Kasali, has urged the National Assembly to enact a law outlawing and criminalising ethnicity and tribal identity in the country.

Kasali said that law abolishing ethnic and tribal sentiments and affiliations, would make the dream of a united and prosperous Nigeria realisable.

The cleric, who spoke on the occasion of his birthday celebration at the church’s headquarters in Ori Oke Alaseyori, Ibadan, Oyo State, said winning the war against tribalism was a necessary condition to tackle the twin challenges of hunger and insecurity confronting the country.

Kasali advised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to step up efforts to ensure the return of the 110 school girls abducted in Dapchi, Yobe State and as well get to the root of the recent cases of corruption springing up in the country if the administration is to be taken seriously.

According to him, the country does not need elaborate restructuring other than to simply abolish all tendencies making citizens define themselves on the basis of tribes as Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Tiv, Ijaw etc, but to identify themselves as Nigerians.

Kasali said: “I want to advise our lawmakers at the National Assembly to do something. I once asked from God what really is wrong with us in Nigeria that we are having these challenges of insecurity, backwardness and scarcity of all good things. The Lord answered and said we have been the cause of these problems.

“Again, l asked Him how have we been the cause of our problems and the Lord sai d that In Nigeria, we identify ourselves first with our tribes but that what should be more paramount to us in identifying our selves should be the fact that we are all Nigerians.

“We must abolish all acts that prioritize our tribal differences over and above the fact that we are all Nigerians. This is why I want to advise our lawmakers that the only restructuring they can assist us with is to make a law that would abolish tribal identity and that anyone who identifies himself or herself as coming any tribe should be punished.

“If we can just get rid of seeing ourselves as coming from a tribe first before being a Nigeria, our problems, particularly security and sociopolitical ones, would be solved. Do you know why Ghana has solved many of its problems? When you see a Ghanaian, he identifies himself first as a Ghanaian before you know what tribe of that country he belongs. They have perish tribal identity.

“But here in Nigeria, we like to always identify and introduce ourselves as coming from the Igbo, Yoruba, Fulani or Hausa or Kanuri first before realising the fact that we are all Nigerians.

“If we can’t solve the problem of tribal differences, we can’t solve security issues. The insurgency challenge arises from our tribal differences and the way we have become too conscious of this. 

Abolish all forms of regional differences, dividing Nigeria along geo political zones and stop seeing yourselves first as Yoruba, Tiv, Fulani or coming from any tribe. Let us promote the fact that we are all Nigerians. We must identify ourselves as one Nigeria and all our security problems will be solved once and for all.

“When we have been able to solve the challenge of tribal differences leading to solving security issues, we would then have agricultural produce in abundance as we would no longer have security issues such as herdsmen menace, cattle rustling and Boko Haram among others,” the cleric said.

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Nigerian Government Has Failed In Health Care Delivery - Minister

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Nigerian Government Has Failed In Health Care Delivery - Minister

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has said the reason the federal government is unable to successfully plan and coordinate health service delivery has to do with its weak governance structures, poor human resource capacity and inefficient core processes.

He also expressed sadness at the inability of the Health Ministry to demonstrate expected results and ensure value for money in the delivery of health services.

Adewole made this known while speaking at the opening ceremony of a retreat aimed at strengthening the Ministry’s budget process and the capacity of the Department of Health Planning, Research & Statistics, which was organised in collaboration with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Health Systems Consults Ltd in Abuja yesterday.

He said: “A few years ago when we came in, I was presented with a report on public financial management, which showed the health sector as the least performer out of sixteen (16) ministries.

“Relatedly, I observed, that the capacity to plan and coordinate health service delivery was weak. These issues undermine the Ministry’s ability to demonstrate results and ensure value for money.”

The Minister, who noted that citizens expected those charged with managing the health system to deliver on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), expressed the belief that a fundamental change in the approach to the delivery of health services that recognizes and addresses the drivers of underperformance is required

According to him, “it is imperative to assess and strengthen the capacity of the Ministry to effectively lead national health planning, policy development, and overall health sector coordination.”

Adewole said that a review of the budget formulation, execution, and monitoring practices within the ministry was a desideratum.

Accordingly, he said the journey to strengthen the process has commenced and all hands must be on deck to achieve this.

He said the leadership of the Ministry is fully committed to achieving that goal and gave assurance of proper guidance.

Source DailyPost

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Summary Of Major Headlines In Nigerian Newspapers Today 28th February, 2018

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Summary Of Major Headlines In Nigerian Newspapers Today 28th February, 2018

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers

1. Suspected herdsmen have rendered no fewer than 5,000 residents of Mbatoho Chile community, an Island close to Benue State Government House, of Makurdi local government homeless following a fresh attack.

The attack took place despite the commencement of Exercise Ayem A’ Kpatuma by the military to check the incursion of herdsmen into parts of Benue‎ State

2. The seeming frosty relationship between the Executive and the National Assembly is slowing down governance, President Muhammadu Buhari has said. 

The President, who spoke at the National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), however, said the government was working hard to resolve the differences between the Executive and the National Assembly so that the country can move forward.

3. A summit convened by the Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, in Enugu ‎was on Tuesday disrupted by pro-Biafra agitators.

It was gathered that the agitators made up of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, the Biafra Zionists Federation, BZF, among several others, forced the event to an abrupt end.

4. Barrister Aisha Alkali Wakil, a North-East human rights activist, popularly called Mama Boko Haram, has revealed that Abu Musab Al-Barnawi-led faction of Boko Haram might be responsible for the abduction of Dapchi School Girls.

Aisha Wakil, a former member of the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the northern region of Nigeria under the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan, had, in previous efforts, brought military officers and Boko Haram Commanders together during negotiations.

5. Suspected herdsmen Tuesday invaded Gwamba community in Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

An eyewitness told said the attackers stormed two villages in the community and opened fire on Tuesday morning, razing several houses, while the residents fled in different directions for safety.

6. President Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he rejected the bill establishing Peace Corps of Nigeria.

Buhari’s explanation, which was contained in a letter read during plenary on Tuesday by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara cited security concerns and financial burden of funding the organisation by the government as his reasons for rejecting the bill.

7. The All Progressives Congress, APC, national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Executive Committee has been given one year extension to be in office.

This decision was arrived at during the national executive committee, NEC, meeting of the party holding in Abuja.

8. No fewer than four persons were critically battered on Tuesday in Akaeze community, Ivo local government area of Ebonyi State following a clash between herdsmen and farmers.

Report says three herdsmen were left with head injuries, while one of the farmers received machete cuts on various parts of his body.

9. The Senate has explained the reason behind its move to amend Investment and Security Act (ISA) 2007 and enactment of Unclaimed Funds Bill 2018, saying there was so much benefit locked up in the sector, capable of boosting the economy.

President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said it had been found that as much as N104 billion was locked up as unclaimed dividends in the capital market.

10. The Senator representing Benue North East in the National Assembly, Barnabas Gemade has faulted the reports in some quarters that the federal legislature gets larger chunk of the nation’s income.

The Senator, who revealed that the National Assembly gets only but 0.06 per cent of the national budget, wondered why those whose interest they were protecting through effective legislations were ones worried about their take home.

Source DailyPost

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Ambushed Boko Haram Terrorists Kill Two Soldiers, Injure Four In Borno

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Ambushed Boko Haram Terrorists Kill Two Soldiers, Injure Four In Borno

Nigerian Army: FILE PHOTO

Two Nigerian soldiers were killed and four injured in an ambush by Boko Haram militants in the country’s northeastern state of Borno, the army said Tuesday.

The attack on Monday happened as soldiers were travelling between the towns of Biu and Damboa.

Borno state has been at the heart of the jihadist insurgency that has killed 20,000 people and displaced 2.6 million more since 2009.

“Our men fell into an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists while on their way to Damboa from Biu,” a military officer told AFP.

“They fought the terrorists and we lost two men in the fight.”

A military vehicle was also seized in the attack, he added.

Despite repeated claims from the authorities in Abuja that they have “crushed the terrorists”, attacks and suicide bombings persist in hard-to-reach rural areas and outlying towns.

Last week Boko Haram militants stormed a girls’ school in Dapchi, in neighbouring Yobe state, and abducted more than 100 schoolgirls.

The raid comes four years after 276 girls were taken from a school in Chibok, in Borno state.

AFP

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Dapchi Missing Girls: FG Releases Names Of The Abducted girls

…as chief of air staff relocates to Yobe

The Federal Government has released the names and other details of the 110 girls who are yet to be accounted for, following the attack on the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19. 

The list was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who had twice led a Federal Government delegation to Yobe since the tragic incident occurred.

The list, which the minister said was handed over to him by the Yobe State Government, contains the name, age, and class of each of the 110 students.

Out of the 110 missing girls, eight are said to be in JSS1, 17 in JSS2, 12 in JSS3, 40 in SS1, 19 in SS2 and 14 in SS3. 

 

Mohammed said that the girls’ ages range from 11 to 19 years.

The list, which also contains the contact address and phone number of each missing girl, was said to have been verified by a 26-member Screening Committee that includes the Executive Secretary, State Teaching Service Board, Musa Abdulsalam; Director, Schools’ Management, Ministry of Education, Shuaibu Bulama; Principal of GGSTC, Adama Abdulkarim; the two Vice Principals, Ali Musa Mabu and Abdullahi Sule Lampo; Admission Officer, Bashir Ali Yerima, and the Form Masters for all the classes.

Meanwhile, Mohammed said that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Tuesday relocated to Yobe State to personally superintend the search for the girls.

He said that the Nigerian Air Force had earlier deployed more platforms to the North-East for the search, as the security agencies ramp up their efforts to locate and rescue the girls.

…as chief of air staff relocates to Yobe 

Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja

The Federal Government has released the names and other details of the 110 girls who are yet to be accounted for, following the attack on the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19. 
The list was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who had twice led a Federal Government delegation to Yobe since the tragic incident occurred.
The list, which the minister said was handed over to him by the Yobe State Government, contains the name, age, and class of each of the 110 students.

 Out of the 110 missing girls, eight are said to be in JSS1, 17 in JSS2, 12 in JSS3, 40 in SS1, 19 in SS2 and 14 in SS3. 

Mohammed said that the girls’ ages range from 11 to 19 years.

The list, which also contains the contact address and phone number of each missing girl, was said to have been verified by a 26-member Screening Committee that includes the Executive Secretary, State Teaching Service Board, Musa Abdulsalam; Director, Schools’ Management, Ministry of Education, Shuaibu Bulama; Principal of GGSTC, Adama Abdulkarim; the two Vice Principals, Ali Musa Mabu and Abdullahi Sule Lampo; Admission Officer, Bashir Ali Yerima, and the Form Masters for all the classes.

Meanwhile, Mohammed said that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Tuesday relocated to Yobe State to personally superintend the search for the girls.
He said that the Nigerian Air Force had earlier deployed more platforms to the North-East for the search, as the security agencies ramp up their efforts to locate and rescue the girls.

“As at 6 pm on Monday, the NAF had flown a total of 200 hours while conducting the search,” Mohammed added.  

 See the list below:

Source PunchNg

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10 Armed Herdsmen Destroying Farmland Nabbed By The Troops in Benue

Troops deployed to Yelwata under the ongoing Exercise Ayem Akpatuma (Cat Race) have arrested 10 herdsmen destroying farmland at Tse-Tigir and Tse-Ndugh villages of Benue.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, said the suspects fled into the bush when they sighted the troops.

“While in the act of destroying the farmland, the herdsmen sighted the aggressive troops and fled into the bush.

“The determined troops pursued and arrest them.

“Items recovered from them are five motorcycles, two machetes, assorted charms and N120,000,” he said.

Chukwu said the suspects and the items were handed over to the Police for investigation.

The spokesman said the Army was determined to fish out criminals and recover weapons they use in killing innocent citizens.

He appealed to the people to cooperate with the troops.

NAN

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N19million Worth Of Illicit Drugs Concealed In Indomie Noodles' Cartons Discovered By NDLEA In Adamawa

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N19million Worth Of Illicit Drugs Concealed In Indomie Noodles' Cartons Discovered By NDLEA

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Adamawa Command, has found illicit drugs that were concealed in noodles’ cartons in a shop in Mubi. The drugs worth about N19million.

Mr. Yakubu Kibo, the NDLEA’s state Commander who made the disclosure shortly after showing the exhibits on Thursday in Yola, said the drugs weigh about 1.31 tonnes and also have a street value of more than N19 million.

A suspect, John Ugwu, who owned the shop opposite Mubi General Hospital, was detained. After a thorough search, 183 Indomie noodles’ cartons were discovered.

The cartons were opened and they contained 1.316 tonnes of Tramadol 225 mg tablets, which were meant to be distributed across different Northern states.

The NDLEA had earlier warned Nigerians on the abuse of Tramadol and raised an alarm that the drug is being consumed mostly in the Northern part of the country. According to the drugs enforcement agency, about 2 truckloads of the drugs were intercepted in January in the South West en-route the North.

Drug abuse is quite rampant across the country and it has been an issue of concern for the government in the past few year as many more youths are taking to the street with more exposure to the usage of these illicit drugs.

Some people have even laid the blame on Nigerian celebrities as they claim that they promote the usage of these drugs in their songs and music videos.

Remember that some few weeks back, Tinsel star Lala Akindoju had come online to berate Nigerian artistes for their promotion of hard drugs in their songs and she is even more concerned on the fact that nobody is doing anything about it as it seems that everyone seems to be comfortable with such promotion.

She would not be the only Nigerian celebrity to talk against the use of hard drugs among the youth. Ace comedian, Okey Bakassi even claimed that over 70% of Nigerian entertainers use hard drugs.

According to him, the rate of drug abuse and consumption in Nigeria is alarming and what is more worrisome is the high number of Nigerian celebrities engaging in illicit drugs, which he said was bad influence on the youths.

Source ShowBiz

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Nigerian Army Captures A Fulani Armed Herdsman With Locally Made Pistol, Cutlass, Bullet Proof Vest

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Nigerian Army Captures A Fulani Armed Herdsman With Locally Made Pistol, Cutlass, Bullet Proof Vest

Troops of Nigerian Army on Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA while on patrol at Gidan Kiya village, Ibbi Local Government Area of Taraba State, have recovered locally made pistol with one live cartridge.

The troops also acting on a distress call immediately intervened in a violent clash between the hunters and herdsmen in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Colonel Aliyu Yusuf, for Director Army Public Relations, said the troops on patrol at Chegba village arrested a herdsman with a locally made bullet proof vest and a cutlass.

He said the herdsman has been handed over to the police for further action.

“The public especially the residents of the areas where Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA is taking place are advised to continue to cooperate with the troops by providing useful information and to report any suspected movement by individual or group to the military or law enforcement agencies in their area,” he said.

Source DailyPost

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Confusion In Senate Following The Sack Of Senator Abdullahi Adamu

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Confusion In Senate Following The Sack Of Senator Abdullahi Adamu

Senator Abdullahi Adamu

There is unrest in the Senate following the unceremonious removal of the Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, Senator Abdullahi Adamu. The incident forced a member of the Forum, Senator Ali Wakil  to dissociate himself from the removal of Adamu on Thursday.

Adamu was sacked as Chairman of Northern Senators’ Forum on Wednesday following a letter signed by the Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Dino Melaye, alleging financial misconduct.

Wakil told the Senate that the meeting of the Forum was never called to discuss the sanction or removal of anybody.

He said some of them watched in disbelief the announcement of Adamu’s removal. The lawmaker came short of saying the removal was done in bad faith.

He said: “I was not here yesterday (Wednesday) but I saw it in the papers and television when you (Deputy Senate President) announced the removal of Senator Abdullahi Adamu as the leader of the Northern Senators’ Forum.

“Your Excellency I come from the north and I am active member of the Northern Senators’ Forum. At no time have we met and put to question any of the leaders of the Northern Senators’ Forum.

“It was brought to this place and it was announced and some of our colleagues went to the Press Centre and made statements that referred to some of us as monkeys.

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"Shehu And I Are Strategizing On How To Arrest The Monkey That Stole Our Money" - Senator Dino

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"Shehu And I Are Strategizing On How To Arrest The Monkey That Stole Our Money" - Senator Dino

Senator Dino Melaye has finally reacted to the reports that a Mysterious Monkey swallowed N70million at a farm, belonging to Northern Senators.

Sen. Dino Melaye shared a photo of himself with Senator Shehu Sani in his Instagram account and captioned it "Shehu and I are strategizing on how to arrest the monkey that stole our money"..

Nigerians are yet to get over the story that a Snake appeared at JAMB office and swallowed N36million , Then this one came in this week.

Poor Monkey, What does it know?

see his post below!

see his post below!

Benue Killings: Tiv Leaders Blast Army For Providing Cover To The Armed Herdsmen

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Benue Killings: Tiv Leaders Blast Army For Providing Cover To The Armed Herdsmen

File Photo

Leaders of the Tiv nation on Thursday accused the army of allegedly providing cover for armed herdsmen to take over the land naturally given to them by God.

They also expressed displeasure over the operation of a military exercise code-named “Cat Race” launched in the state by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to restore peace in Benue State communities following attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen.

President of the Mzough U Tiv (MUT), Chief Edward Ujege, in a statement issued to the media in Makurdi, expressed reservations over the emerging trends of the military operation which he said has made the people be apprehensive about the real mission of troops deployed to the state.

Chief Ujege disclosed that since the flag off of the exercise, the military has been circulating pamphlets through its Department of Civil-Military Affairs, Army Headquarters which “confirmed that the military had come to provide cover for armed Fulani herdsmen to take over the land of the people.”

The translation on the pamphlets, Chief Ujege emphasized, portrayed a purported dialogue between the Fulani herdsmen and Benue farmers on their alleged resolution to shift grounds on both farming and cattle grazing activities in the state.

Part of the translation of the pamphlets reads:

Tiv farmer: I’m your brother and a farmer; my farm produce is just as important as your cattle.

Fulani herder: I will no longer destroy your farm produce and longer kill your people. You are my brother, we should live in peace.

Tiv farmer: I too will no longer rustle or kill your cattle. You are my brother, let us live in peace.

Ujege said it was clear from the flyer that the military has acknowledged that the Fulani herdsmen are responsible for the large-scale massacre and massive destruction in of farm crops in the state.

He regretted that instead of addressing issues of justice, reparation and compensation, the federal government is compelling people of the state to accommodate the perpetrators of the heinous atrocities.

“Moreover, there is no reference to the Open Grazing Prohibition and Establishment of Ranches Law 2017, which addresses the fundamental issues of making both the farmers and the herders coexist in peace. The military is not only silent on the law but has encouraged open grazing with all its concomitant consequences. This silence on the law points to the fact that they are not in its support and are not ready to ensure its enforcement”.

But the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 707 Special Forces Brigade, Major Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, in a swift reaction, countered the position of the Tiv leader saying “Operation Cat-race is not in support of any group”.

The Army spokesman, Major Ayeni said the role of the army in the crisis is to ensure the return of enduring peace in sacked communities and safe return of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.

“All that the army needs to do here is to ensure that no Benue resident is killed or displaced from their homes, that is all we are doing. We want to ensure peaceful coexistence among the herders and farmers. We are not saying the Fulani herdsmen should not obey the anti-open grazing law enacted by the Benue State government.

“Let me inform you that we had arrested a Fulani herdsman yesterday and two others that wanted to attack Governor Ortom’s farm in Guma and with all these successes you should know that Operation Ayem A Kpatuma is not in support of any group and is not in the pursuit or criticising any group.”

“Our role is to make sure that Benue State is peaceful and one of the ways we are going about it is for the herders to know that either a Tiv man or an Idoma man or Igede man is a Nigerian like him and a herder who is not violent now is their brother.

“However in the course of the military exercise if we find a violent herdsman that want to kill or displace any person in Benue State, we get him arrested and that is why we arrested two people two weeks ago, and arrested another one for preventing the Tiv people from been peaceful in their own environment.

“So the way and manner we go in achieving a peaceful environment in Benue State especially in Guma and Logo local government areas of the state and Katsina-Ala local government is by using this psychological method to test these people that we are friends, don’t fight or pursue the other because we are one family. But however, if you saw anyone who want to kill you, report and we will get that person arrested and deal with him according to the law”, said Major Ayeni.

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