Fulani herdsmen kill, maim and sack 25 more villages in Benue State.

In a fresh outbreak of violence, armed Fulani herdsmen have sacked 25 villages in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, killing two people and wounding several others in the process.

Over three thousand persons are reported to have been rendered homeless with their houses burnt down by the rampaging Fulani herdsmen.

Fulani herdsmen armed with sophisticated assault rifles had only a few weeks ago, sacked Agatu communities, killing over 400 persons and taking over their land.

Surviving victims of the Agatu attacks are presently being sheltered in Internally Displaced Persons, IDP camps.

The Herald reports that the Fulani invasion started with the attack four days ago of Ukemberegya, Bwarer, Mbawar, Gov and Gambe Tiev communities.

Mrs. Terungwa Torhemba, a victim of the attack, speaking through an interpreter in Makurdi, said the fully armed Fulani herdsmen had completely taken over Abiam Koya, Iordye, Nyakoo, Mkpikpa., Afom, Uzaagir, Ugbende Mue, Dam, Shaausu, Ukme, Chenbe, Anwen, Sebungen Ubosha, Chia, Asemngoroko and Inderkar.

“They attacked us four days ago, killing our people. So many cannot be located at the moment; we have also lost all of our belongings, farm produce and farmland to the well-armed herdsmen who have completely taken over our villages.

“At the moment we have no source of livelihood because they have also converted our farmlands to grazing settlements for their cattle,” Torhemba lamented.

Simon Ugba, the Caretaker Chairman of Logo Local Government Area confirmed that two persons were killed in the attacks.

He described the number of displaced people as staggering, adding that no designated camp has been created for the displaced persons.

He however assured that everything is being done in collaboration with the state government to help the victims.

The Minister of Interior, Abdurrahman Dambazau had on March 14 in a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Osaigbovo Ehisienmen, pledged to take decisive action to bring the perpetrators of the Agatu massacre to justice.

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Get an Economic Adviser, Murray-Bruce advises Buhari

The Senator representing Bayelsa South Senatorial District, Mr Ben Murray-Bruce has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari's economic policy.

In a veiled reference to the prevailing Economic hardship in the country, Murray-Bruce advised Buhari to appoint an Economic Adviser.

See what he wrote on Twitter.

Ben Murray-Bruce
@
benmurraybruce
16h
President @MBuhari , again I implore you to hire an Economic Adviser in addition to your 5 media aides.

pic.twitter.com

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N3.9b fraud trial: Finance Director recounts how he rejected Badeh's N120m largesse

A former Accounts and Finance Director in the Nigerian Airforce, Salisu Abdullahi has told a Federal High Court in Abuja how he rejected a monthly largesse of N120m allocated to his office and turned same over to then Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh for 39 months.

Testifying as a prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, , Abdullahi told the court that the monthly salary for the Airforce at the time was N4 billion with N558 million set aside for the general administration of the chief of staff’s office.

“We receive about N4bn monthly for the payment of salaries. Our total wage bill, when I was finance director, was above N2 b. The balance of the money for personnel emolument was about N1.7 b. The sum of N558m was earmarked for the general administration of the chief of staff’s office monthly. The balance is proposed for disbursement to the units. In most cases the Chief of Air Staff directs that the amount be exchanged into US dollars and taken to the headquarters Nigeria Air Force camp.

“When this money is exchanged it is brought to me, and I take this money to the Chief Air Staff at home- his official residence at Niger Barracks. As military officers we don’t request for any acknowledgment. In some cases, I do tell the finance officer to meet me at air house at Niger barracks with the money so that he can see when I hand over the money to the Chief of Air Staff. The instruction to convert the money to dollar was not in writing. The Chief of Air Staff gives many instructions that are not in writing. The instructions in writing are those requests forwarded to his office from the branches. When I came I met N120m earmarked for the office of the director of finance. It was part of the balance of personnel emolument released monthly. But I rejected it. I asked that the money be placed under the control of the Chief of Air Staff for tours and visits, and other sundry issues,” he said.

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CAN meets Kaduna Govt over plan to regulate religious preaching

The government of Kaduna State on Wednesday met with the state branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN behind closed doors at the Government House

The meeting was to seek the support of CAN for the government-sponsored bill that seeks to regulate religious preaching in the state.

The government was represented at the meeting which lasted for about 40 minutes by the Deputy Governor, Mr Barnabas Bala

Kaduna State CAN Chairman, Bishop George Dodo, who briefed the press after the meeting confirmed that it was on the controversial bill, but declined further comments.

“When we are through with the study, memo will be sent to the state Assembly. On the day of public hearing we will explain more, but now it would be premature to say the position of CAN,” he said.

He however doused the fear that the state government was trying to muzzle religious freedom.

“I don’t think any governor has the power to enact law that will supersede what is in the constitution.

“The constitution guarantees every person the right to practice his/her religion. I don’t think there is any governor that can enact a law in that regard.

“Governors ask for prayers in all places of worship, so how would they enact a law that will ban the practice of religion,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that the state government is bent on going ahead with the Religious Preaching Bill which has already been rejected by the Council of Imams and Ulamas in order to
“protect the state from religious extremism and hate speech."

The state government expressed its position in a statement issued by Gov Nasir El-Rufai's Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Samuel Aruwan at the end of the meeting.

“This is not a new law, it has existed since 1984, with amendments in 1987 and 1996.

“The bill, by virtue of Section 45(1) of the 1999 Constitution, is in order and does not offend the provisions of the constitution. The provisions of the bill are in tandem with the Constitution.

“There is nothing in the bill that suggests any effort to abolish, stop or derogate on the freedom of religion and religious beliefs.

“It merely seeks to ensure that religious preaching and activities in the state are conducted in ways that do not threaten public order, public safety, and to protect the rights and freedom of other persons,” the statement said.

NAN

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FG To create three million jobs in three years

FG to provide 3 million jobs in the next 3 years - Osinbajo http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2016/03/fg-to-provide-3-million-jobs-in-next-3.html

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National Industrial Court In Valedictory Session For James Ocholi (Photos)

The National Industrial Court, NIC on Wednesday held a valedictory session in honor of the fallen Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister James Ocholi who died with his wife and son in an accident along the Abuja-Kaduna highway on Sunday, March 6, 2016.

The late Ocholis will be buried in their home town in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State on March 18.

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Six drunken elders sentenced to 120 strokes of the cane

A Senior Magistrates Court in Malumfashi, Katsina State on Wednesday, sentenced six elderly men to 20 strokes of the cane each for constituting public nuisance in their drunken state.

The convicts Nomau Akwai, Yusuf Bature, Salisu Abdullahi, Sani Rabi’u, Sa’idu Abdullahi and Musa Yusuf, are all residents of Malumfashi Local Government Area.

The prosecuting police officer, Cpl. Joseph George told the court that the convicts were arrested by a police patrol team on March 13 while wondering and intoxicated with alcohol at Gidan Mariya and Gidan Coach, in Marabar Kankara, a suburb of Malumfashi.

He said that the act constituted an offense of public nuisance under section 183 of the penal code law and urged the court to try them summarily.

The accused persons pleaded guilty to the charge and were summarily sentenced to 20 strokes of the cane each by the presiding Magistrate Salisu Shehu

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