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Two policemen missing in Benue herdsmen attack

Fatai Owoseni

The Benue State Police command at the weekend declared four of their men missing after a patrol vehicle in which they operated was set ablaze.

It was ambushed by suspected herdsmen in Logo Local Government.

The incident occurred in Tse Akpam village, Azege, Mbaya, Tombo ward on Saturday.

It was gathered that the police patrol team came under attack when they responded to a distress call that herdsmen and their cattle were destroying crops and setting houses ablaze in Tse Akpam village.

A community leader in Azege, Unande Timothy, said on telephone that the police patrol team went after the herdsmen.

He said at a point there was no road for the patrol vehicle and they parked the van and continued to chase the suspects on foot.

According to Unande, some herdsmen retreated to set the patrol vehicle ablaze.

Benue State police spokesman Moses Yamiu, said the police had launched a search for their missing men who he said were on confidence-building patrol when they were ambushed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Yamu confirmed that the herdsmen set their vehicle ablaze.

However, two of the missing policemen returned unhurt. Benue State police commissioner Fatai Owoseni confirmed their return.

He said “Two officers rejoined their colleagues. Unhurt. Hoping to see the remaining two.”

Suspected herdsmen still continued with their killings at the weekend with attacks on palm wine tappers in Kaduna and policemen in Benue.

They were linked with the killing of four persons and injuring of one in an attack on Bakin Kogi village in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State yesterday.

It was learnt that the victims were palm wine tappers who came from other communities to conduct their business.

A source told our correspondent on telephone that four of the palm wine tappers were attacked and killed in the bush. One escaped with serious injury.

He said: “Those killed were palm wine tappers, but they are not members of the community. They do come from another community.

“They were tapping palm wine when they were attacked by unidentified gunmen. I cannot tell you where they came from for now. But they are not from our community here.

“Policemen have visited the place and evacuated their bodies. The area is calm as I speak with you.”

Another source claimed that “the attackers in their numbers around 9am, stormed the village from the outskirt, and shot sporadically at innocent persons, killing four and injuring one.

“Other people at the scene escaped unhurt while the victims died of bullet wounds,” the source added.

Commissioner of Police Austin Iwar requested for more time to confirm the story.

“I cannot confirm this to you now. Give me till tomorrow,” he said.

The Command’s spokesman, ASP Mukhtar Aliyu, was quoted to have confirmed the incident though he was yet to get full details as at press time.

“The police spokesman in the district and the Area Commander said they were collating assessment reports in the affected community,” he said.

Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi 11 yesterday advised herders to rein in the criminals among them.

He also urged them to imbibe the culture of patience and perseverance even in the face of provocation by farmers or their local community.

The Emire spoke at the weekend in Minna, the Niger State capital, during a meeting between traditional rulers/North’s leaders and Fulani herders’ associations organised to end  killings and incessant clashes between herders and farmers.

He urged stakeholders to liaise with governors of Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa and Kano states who had indicated interest to allocate grazing reserves, with a view to developing such land to house their cattle.

. Emir Sanusi said Fulani “are neither terrorists nor criminals “as perceived by some Nigerians. He described them as law abiding citizens who respect constituted authorities.

He urged Nigerians to avoid ethnic profiling whenever a crime is committed by persons of certain tribe, adding that criminals have no tribal marks.

The Lamido of Adamawa,  Muhammadu Barkindo Musdafa, attended the meeting. Former Ahmadu Bello University Vice Chancelor Prof. Ango Abdullahi and Dr. Aliyu Tilde, among others, were there.

They met with the leadershipof Fulani socio-cultural groups, such as Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBA), Miyetti Allah Katul Houre and Gan Allah Fulani Development Association.

The Zonal Chairman of the National Executive Committee of MACBA, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, said governors ought to emulate Governors Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi  (Enugu) who had effectively stemmed the recurring clashes between farmers and herders in their states when other governors and the Federal Government were at a loss on what to do.

He said the two governors were open-minded in their approach to tackling the clashes, adding that through stakeholders meetings which included the leadership of the herders associations, farmers’ unions, traditional rulers and community leaders across all the local government areas, they understood the causes of the clashes and found amicable ways of addressing them.

Siddiki said measures, which had worked in stemming the tide of violent conflicts among herders and farmers in the two states, should serve as models to other governors.

“Conflict between herdsmen and farmers has a long history; the solution has been to engage all stakeholders to find an amicable of resolving such,” he noted and urged politicians “to avoid exacerbating the conflict for selfish reasons”.

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Tinubu returns from Paris today, Says Onanuga

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President Bola Tinubu is set to return to Nigeria today after spending close to two weeks abroad, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has confirmed.

Onanuga, in a brief post on X, wrote: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will return home today.”

The Presidency had earlier assured Nigerians that despite the President’s stay overseas, he remained fully engaged with national governance.

In a statement last Thursday, Onanuga explained: “The President left Paris for London at the weekend and has maintained constant communication with key government officials, overseeing critical national matters, including directives to security chiefs to address emerging threats in some parts of the country.”

He further emphasised that Tinubu’s absence was temporary and “in line with the communicated timeframe of approximately two weeks,” with his return scheduled for April 21, following the Easter holidays.

“The President’s commitment to his duties remains unwavering, and his administration continues to function effectively under his leadership.

“We appreciate the public’s concern and assure all Nigerians that governance proceeds without interruption,” the statement added.

Tinubu had departed for Paris on April 2, 2025, for what the Presidency described as a two-week working visit. According to Onanuga, the trip was intended to “appraise his administration’s mid-term performance and assess key milestones.”

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Opeifa request for the state government to assist the Railway Police and Otti, thanks Tinubu for picking the best material to rewrite Nigeria Railway history

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Gov. Otti describes Opeifa as a thorough-bred professional ready to rewrite Nigeria Railway history
Lauds President Tinubu for picking the best material to reposition Nigeria’s oldest corporation

A deserving commendation came the way of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, as the Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, described him as an exceptional professional, most suitable to lead the Nigeria’s oldest surviving public corporation.

Governor Otti spoke on Wednesday, at the Government House in Abia State, during a business visit by the MD/CEO of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, as part of his familiarization tour of the Eastern District of the Corporation.

According to Governor Otti: “I have had so many engagements with past leaders of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, you are clearly different and knows the job”. He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Dr. Opeifa to lead the Nigerian Railway Corporation, expressing assurance at his ability to deliver.

He thanked the MD/CEO for promising to synergize with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, and the State Government to see that the transformation of the transportation system in Umuahia is achieved. According to the Governor, “Umuahia Bus terminal is progressing rapidly and we felt that it is important to replicate what we have in Paignton, United Kingdom in Umuahia, by linking the train station with the Terminal to enhance intermodal transportation services.

The Governor stated that he was very happy to see that the MD/CEO is committed to taking the track from Aba to Enugu and even beyond. He recalled, with nostalgia how the train had served the people of the state and regretted the downward trends of rain services across the entire South East.

On the MD/CEO’s request for the state government to assist the Railway Police in the state, Governor Otti promised that his government will provide mobility for Aba Railway Police.

He added that the state government is always ready to support the Federal Government institutions as users of such federal institutions are people of the state, adding that his administration cannot differentiate between federal and state government workers.

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Airlin Advocacy Commissions Jos Office, Targets 7m Members By Next Elections,Says Mohammed Gamawa

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During the inauguration ceremony, the National Chairman of Airlin, Mohammed Gamawa, delivered a keynote address, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to educating Nigerians on their civic rights and responsibilities.

According to Gamawa, Airlin aims to bridge the gap between citizens and the principles of the rule of law by fostering a society where people understand not only their rights but also what is expected of them by the country.

“Our goal is to foster interaction among Nigerians, promote respect for the rule of law, and ensure citizens know their rights and civic responsibilities — such as voting to elect future leaders not based on materialism but based on integrity and competence,” Gamawa stated.

He added that understanding and exercising one’s franchise, especially during elections, must go hand in hand with being law-abiding and fully aware of civil responsibilities.

As part of its mission, Airlin is currently targeting 19 states in Northern Nigeria, with Jos becoming the 15th state to be commissioned.

The ceremony also featured the appointment of state and local government coordinators who will help drive the organization’s grassroots advocacy efforts.

With a current membership base of 2.1 million Nigerians aged 18 and above, Airlin projects a significant growth trajectory, aiming to reach 7 million members before the next general elections.

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