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Traditional Ruler, Two Others Killed In Bloody Benue Land Dispute

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A protracted land dispute between the people of Okete in Ohimini Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state and the neighbouring community of Otukpo-Nobi in Otukpo LGA over the ownership of

Amla-Icho community land has claimed the lives of a traditional ruler and two others in the feuding communities.

It was gathered that the age long dispute was triggered last week when the Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Alfred Omakwu allegedly sent a bulldozer to the disputed land to enable him commence work on the creation of a layout in the area.

The presence of the earth moving equipment angered the people of Okete who moved to stop the destruction of the cultivated land.

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In his account on the incident, the Chairman of Otukpo LGA said “the problem is that the Okete people lost it. It is a dispute between Amla in Otukpo and Okete in Ohimini LGA and a total of three people lost their lives in the crisis.

“What happened was that they (the Okete people) used to go and farm in Amla land but sometimes last year when we wanted to develop a layout there, the Okete people went to report to the Och’Idoma that their farm produce were there and the Och’Idoma directed that no layout should be done until they harvest their products.

“February this year, they harvested their produce and the Och’Idoma called them and informed them that by March this year, Otukpo would go ahead with their layout and that they should not farm there again.

“But when the bulldozers returned they said they had farmed there already and reported the matter to their Second Class Chief as well as their LGA Chairman who called me and I told them that the Och’Idoma asked them not to farm there again because of the layouts.

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“So when the bulldozer went there on Friday, they came with their lawyer who called me and I told him everything and said if they want to go to court, it was their right.

“They demanded that the bulldozer stopped work but their lawyer advised that they should wait for him to get an injunction from the court but they said they could not wait.

“They then went to the First class chief of Otukpo/Ohimini who called Och’Idoma and the Och’Idoma said they should not stop the people doing the layout because he asked them not to farm their again.

“At that point they went there and opened fire on the people; they killed one and shot two people and burnt all their motorbikes about 10 of them.

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“Then Otukpo retaliated the next day; they also burnt some houses and killed one person and killed another person in Amla making two.

“But we have maintained calm. The Police Commissioner summoned all of us for a peace meeting so we are restoring peace now among both parties. We have agreed that all the culprits will be arrested and brought to book.”

Countering his Otukpo counterpart, the Ohimini LG Chairman, Samson Okoh who also acknowledged that the dispute was over land said “there is a place called Amla, it’s close to Okete. The Otukpo Chairman took the bulldozers to the place where the Okete people used to farm for years and according to him he wanted to do a layout. So he went and destroyed their farm crops.

“When the Okete people demanded an explanation, the Amla people said the land does not belong to the Okete people but to the Amla people.

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“According to what I was told, when the argument ensued somehow one of them from Otukpo pulled the trigger and shot but the bullet mistakenly hit a fellow Otukpo person.

“Then on Saturday night the Amla people went and reinforced and barricaded the Okete people, burnt houses, beat up ans killed one boy. And on Sunday around 10am when I went to take the boy they killed to the mortuary, the Alma people went to the place again and burnt 17 houses, burnt motorcycles, slaughtered a Clan Head Chief Sunday Okpe, and shot five other persons who we took to the Teaching Hospital in Otukpo for treatment.”

The Chairman who informed that the community had been deserted said the parties had been summoned by the Police Commissioner over the matter and that efforts were on to apprehend the masterminds of the crisis.

On whether the Paramount ruler of Idoma land, Och’Idoma Agaba-Idu John Odogbo asked his people not to farm on the said land again, the Chairman said, “I am not aware of that but the Otukpo Chairman claimed so. I was not told by the Och’Idoma to tell the people not to farm there.

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“Moreover, the Och’Idoma cannot tell the people to stop farming where they have been farming for several years without compensation or settlement and you just take the bulldozer to destroy their crops on the hectares of land they eke a living from.”

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene who confirmed the development said the command received the report of one death though she was awaiting full details of the incident.

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Court remands three Anambra native doctors over alleged criminal activities

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The Anambra State Government yesterday arraigned three native doctors before a State High Court for alleged involvement in criminal activities.

The suspects were Chidozie Nwangwu popularly known as “Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki”, Onyebuchi Okocha known as “Onye Eze” and Ekene Igboezekwe popularly known as “Eke Hit”.

They were charged in suit numbers A/41C2025, A/40C2025 and A/42C2025 respectively with alleged claims of possessing supernatural powers to make money or stagnate destiny, as well as conspiracy to commit felony to wit kidnapping and obtaining by fraud.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspects were all arrested by the Anambra Security outfit known as “Agunechemba” in February and have been in detention till date.

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The prosecution counsel, Mr. F.C. Okeke, told the court that the charges against the suspect had been served them and that they were ready to proceed with the case.

But the defence counsel, Mr S.O. Iwuoba and others took turns to inform the court that the processes were not served in good time to enable them to respond.

The charges were not read in detail as a result of the development.

The presiding Judge, Justice Jude Obiora, ordered that the suspects be returned to Agunechemba detention facility to make for proper processing.

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Obiora adjourned the cases to April 11 for proper arraignment and pleadings.

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Plateau attack: 40 more bodies recovered as death toll hits 52

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The search and rescue operation that followed this week’s apparently co-ordinated attacks on some communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State has yielded additional 40 bodies, officials confirmed yesterday.

The recovery has now taken the death toll in the attacks on Mangor Tamiso,  Daffo, Manguna (Tagai),  Hurti and Tadai to 52.

The state government said some arrests have been made in connection with the Wednesday night mayhem.

Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, Farmasum Fuddang said 31 persons were given a mass burial on Thursday.

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According to him five under age victims were burnt to ashes at Hurti village, 11 were killed at Ruwi village, four persons killed at Manguna with one killed at  Dafo.

The condemned the attacks.

It said some suspects have been arrested but did not put a figure to the arrests.

Information and Communication Commissioner Joyce Ramnap in a statement in Jos, extended government’s condolences to bereaved families and said every effort was being made by the security agencies  to stem the wave of killings.

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The Mutfwang Administration, the commissioner added, had deployed strategic measures to enhance intelligence gathering, surveillance, and rapid response mechanisms in collaboration with security operatives.

She asked religious, traditional, and community leaders to reinforce the message of peace, unity, and lawful engagement while residents were advised to remain law-abiding, support security efforts, and utilize official channels for security concerns.”

Residents of the affected communities said the invaders shot sporadically, catching the people unawares.

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Outrage As Police Officer Vows to Kill Southerners Over Edo Killings

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Reactions have trailed the comment of a Kaduna State police officer, Hadaina Hussaini Dan-Taki over the killings in Uromi area of Edo State.

Dan-Taki has threatened reprisal attacks on southerners living in northern Nigeria.

His remarks followed the brutal killing of 16 northerners in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Dan-Taki made the inflammatory comments in a Facebook post on Tuesday, vowing that northerners would retaliate.

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“I swear to Almighty God, we must do something for you guys. Have you forgotten all your brothers living here in the North? Mark my words, after one week, you shall see the result,” he reportedly wrote.

Following backlash, Dan-Taki changed his Facebook name and restricted access to his profile, limiting public visibility of his posts and comments.

Dan-Taki’s post was flagged by an X user identified as Uche, who shared a screenshot while tagging Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

Adejobi swiftly acknowledged the post, stating, “Noted for necessary action. Thanks.”

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Meanwhile, law enforcement continues to investigate the attack in Uromi. Fourteen suspects linked to the killing of hunters from Kano State have been arrested and transferred to Abuja for further interrogation. Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo confirmed the arrests and assured Nigerians that justice would be served.

The victims were reportedly traveling to Kano for Sallah celebrations when they were ambushed by a mob. Their vehicle was stopped and ransacked before they were killed, sparking nationwide outrage and calls for swift justice.

Governor Okpebholo condemned the attack as “tragic and condemnable,” emphasizing that law enforcement agencies are taking decisive steps.

“The president is deeply concerned, and the suspects arrested so far are being transferred to Abuja for further interrogation,” he stated.

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The killings have heightened tensions, prompting leaders across the country to call for calm and restraint. Officials from Kano and Edo States have been engaging in discussions to prevent further escalation.

The Chief of Defence Staff has also condemned the attack and vowed that justice will be served.

Authorities continue to investigate both the killings and Dan-Taki’s comments, with expectations that decisive action will be taken to prevent further unrest.

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