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Benue bandits shunned govt’s olive branch, says Alia
By Francesca Hangeior.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has reported that local bandits terrorising the Sankera axis of the state have rejected measures put in place to rehabilitate them.
The governor made this statement on Sunday in Makurdi while reviewing the activities of bandits in Ukum, Katsina-Ala, and Logo LGAs, which constitute the Sankera axis.
The Sankera axis has remained a flashpoint of criminality over the years, and the killing of their kingpin, Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana, by the military in 2020 worsened the security situation in the axis as his former associates split into rival groups.
The state Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Matthew Abo, told our correspondent that the bandits had turned down all entreaties to hold peace meetings with the government.
The bandits had accused the state government of betrayal for not fulfilling its promises to grant them amnesty.
Speaking on the issue, the governor said that his administration had extended an olive branch to the bandits, but they rejected it.
He said, “During my campaign, I told every faceless group in all the zones creating instability in the state to sheathe their swords. A new government is coming to liberate them and get them out of the bush. They should stop killing their very siblings, and that is what I have been trying to do.
“I offered to sponsor those who wished to go to school, to help them recreate their lives, and for those inclined towards trades, I offered skills training to help them earn a living. We would fund their establishment after acquiring the skills.
“All these measures were to enable them to come out of the bushes and stop destabilising the LGAs and killing their people.”
The governor regretted that some bandits who had accepted the offer and planned to leave the bushes were killed by rival groups in the guise of superiority.
“Unfortunately, those who were inclined to come out were attacked and caught in fights for superiority within the bushes,” he added.
Alia also accused some politicians of sponsoring the bandits, which he said had complicated the instability on the axis.
“For many years, there have been skirmishes and instability in the Ukum area, and most of this instability is not from outsiders. It’s the homegrown bandits who are killing their people and preventing them from going to the farm.
“The so-called Abuja politicians are the ones sponsoring and supporting these bandits.”
The governor, however, said that his administration would not relent in talking to the bandits to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign in the area.
“We cannot stop talking to them. I have extended numerous olive branches to them,” the governor concluded.
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See Photos of World’s Tallest and Shortest Women Meet for Afternoon Tea in London
The world’s tallest woman and the world’s shortest woman met for the first time this week, sipping tea from china cups — and bonding over what they have in common while celebrating their differences.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Rumeysa Gelgi, from Turkey, stands at 7 feet and 0.7 inches, while Jyoti Amge, from India, is 2 feet and 0.7 inches.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
“You’re so beautiful,” said Gelgi, 27. “Thank you — you too,” replied Amge, 30.
Their meeting, over afternoon tea at London’s Savoy Hotel on Tuesday, came ahead of Guinness World Records Day, which is held annually in November to mark record-breaking achievements and encourage people to attempt records. The pair have been honored as “World Record icons” in the 70th anniversary edition of the Guinness World Records book.
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“Meeting Jyoti for the first time was wonderful,” Gelgi said in a release Wednesday. “She’s the most gorgeous lady. I was waiting to meet her for a long time.”
Gelgi said the pair bonded over their love for makeup, jewelry and doing their nails.
Video footage showed them sitting down for tea, cakes and sandwiches stacked next to them, with the London Eye visible from the window.
Amge said in the release that she was “so happy to look up” and see the world’s tallest woman, whom she called “good-natured.” She added that it was difficult at times for the pair to make eye contact “due to our height difference.”
“Guinness World Records is all about celebrating differences,” its editor in chief, Craig Glenday, said in a statement ahead of Guinness World Record Day, which is on Thursday.
“By bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and, also, with us,” Glenday said.
Gelgi’s record-breaking height is due to a rare genetic condition called Weaver syndrome, which causes rapid growth, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
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The primary symptom is growth and bone development that occurs faster than usual, making those affected taller than average. People with Weaver syndrome may have rigid muscles and difficulty extending their elbows or knees.
Gelgi used a walking aid for support during the pair’s meeting. Her case of Weaver syndrome was the 27th ever diagnosed and the first in Turkey, according to Guinness World Records.
Weaver syndrome is generally caused by changes in the EZH2 gene, according to the NORD, though the organization notes that some people with Weaver syndrome do not have a mutation in the gene.
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Amge, an actor who played the character of Ma Petite in the television series “American Horror Story,” has a genetic growth disorder that occurs in the early stages of fetal development, known as achondroplasia.
According to Johns Hopkins, the condition causes shorter bones, abnormally shaped bones and shorter stature. While the genetic defect can be passed from parent to child, in about 80 percent of cases, achondroplasia results from a spontaneous mutation that occurs in the developing embryo.
On Thursday, Gelgi shared photos on Instagram of the two exploring London despite the cold weather, posing side by side in front of Tower Bridge.
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