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#BenueUnderAttack: Nigerians express outrage over violent killings in Benue

Published

3 years ago

May 28, 2021

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Over 200 people have been reportedly killed in the last month in Benue

Nigerians on social media have decried the alarming rate of violent killings being perpetrated in Benue State by suspected herders.

Trending the hashtag #BenueUnderAttack on Friday, Nigerian Twitter users called the attention of authorities to gory images as evidence of mass killings.

Over 200 people have been reportedly killed in the last month in Benue.

Earlier in the week, there were reports of how suspected herders attacked Katsina Ala Local Government Area of the state, killing over a hundred residents and rendering many others homeless.

The governor of the state, Samuel Ortom, has repeatedly demanded the federal government’s intervention, noting that the attacks are increasingly overwhelming security agencies.

The state government, against the advice of the federal government, said it would not revert its ban on open grazing.

Mr Ortom has also urged the people to defend themselves against killer herders.

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“I’ll no longer announce the deaths of those killed by Fulani herdsmen; rise up and defend yourselves with weapons not prohibited by law, bows and arrows, spears, knives, and similar ones,” Mr Ortom said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the federal government said instead of banning open grazing, it would commence rehabilitation of grazing reserves.

The presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on Monday, announced President Buhari’s approval of the rehabilitation of grazing reserves, stating that it would commence in June.

The move is aimed at curbing the bloody clashes between herders and farmers across the country.

But, Mr Ortom, in a swift response, kicked against the plan which he described as a misplaced priority.

“We find the move not only shocking and curious but also as a misplaced priority,” the governor said through his spokesperson, Terver Akase.

Although the killings in Benue are part of the larger insecurity across Nigeria, on Friday, calls to save the ‘food basket of the nation’ gained attention on social media.

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Related Topics:Benueunderatattack Nigerians Social Media

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UPDATED: Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as chairman of education loan fund

Published

3 hours ago

April 26, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jim Ovia as the chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, announced the appointment of Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank, in a statement on Friday.

Ngelale said Tinubu believes that Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience to ensure that no Nigerian student suffers a paucity of funds in the quest for tertiary education.

On April 3, Tinubu signed the student loans amendment bill into law to provide Nigerians with quality and accessible education.

The law will allow Nigerian students in tertiary institutions to access low-interest loans for tuition and other academic needs.

Subsequently, the president appointed Akintunde Sawyerr as the managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the fund.

Tinubu also appointed Frederick Oluwafemi Akinfala as the executive director of finance and administration, while Mustapha Iyal will serve as the executive director of operations of NELFUND.

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JUST IN: Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as chairman of education loan fund

Published

6 hours ago

April 26, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jim Ovia as the chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, announced the appointment of Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank, in a statement on Friday.

More to follow…

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ICPC detains TETFund boss ‘over questionable N7.6bn project’

Published

10 hours ago

April 26, 2024

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has detained Sonny Echono, executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Demola Bakare, ICPC spokesperson, confirmed the development on Friday.

Bakare said that Echono was invited by the anti-graft agency on Thursday.

“The executive secretary of TETFund is here with us. He has been invited for questioning. He is still in custody. He was invited yesterday.” Bakare said.

“He was invited on Thursday. He has not been released. He’s still with us. Investigation is still ongoing.”

It was earlier reported that TETfund awarded two contracts to Fides Et Ratio Academy and Pole Global Marketing (PGM) within two months at the cost of N3.8 billion respectively without the approval of the federal executive council (FEC), which is required for the contract size.

The contract was to provide capacity building course and learning management systems to about 2 million students across higher institutions in the country.

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In a rejoinder, TETFund said it did not award N7.6 billion contracts to two companies without due process.

The agency said it was wrong to say they were contracts, whereas they were ICT projects implemented under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which doesn’t require competitive bidding in public procurement.

TETFund further said its disbursement guidelines were approved by the president on the recommendation of the “Fund’s Board of Trustees and concurrence of the Honourable Minister of Education in line with the TETFund Act 2011″.

In an interview with TheCable, Echono said there was no form of irregularity in the N7.6 billion project.