Metro
Commuters groan over relocation of Yenagoa motor parks
Commuters in Yenagoa are groaning over the directive by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Transport to relocate all motor parks operating within Yenagoa and its environs to the new transport terminal at Igbogene in Yenagoa.
Commuters have described their ordeal before getting to their respective destinations, particularly, during this festive season distressing and have expressed dismay and outright annoyance over the insensitivity on the part of the state Ministry of Transport to their plight.
Some said the state government ought to have called all the gazetted transport unions across the state to a roundtable discussion on the matter before embarking on the forceful relocation of the motor parks to Igbogene.
A commuter, Mr Douye Wikimor, noted that the enforcement of the directive by stern-looking security operatives at the motor park at the popular Tombia Roundabout is a misplaced priority and a complete miscalculation on the part of the state Ministry of Transport.
He added that other commuters like himself will have to pay double transportation fares before arriving at their destinations.
Wikimor urged the state government and other relevant stakeholders in the transport sector to re-think and consider the stress and pains the gazetted transport unions and commuters will bear as a result of the sudden and forceful relocation.
President of the Federal University, Otuoke Students Union Government, Comrade Azubike Ekene, said the relocation will cause a lot of inconvenience and pain to students of not only the university but also those of the Niger Delta University, Amassoma.
Ekene said the policy is not bad, especially when viewed against the backdrop of sanitising and decongesting the motor parks within Yenagoa and its environs, but pointed out that the execution of the policy is ill-timed as the planners did not take into consideration the plight of students in the state.
He warned that the student union body will embark on a peaceful protest if the relocation policy is not reconsidered.
In the same vein, another commuter, Tekena Kio, condemned the relocation and centralisation policy, noting that the policy will negatively affect the gazetted transport unions in the state, commuters and small and medium-scale businesses operating within and around the various motor parks.
Kio said the policy will also create room for crime and criminality as the employees of the gazetted unions will be thrown back into the labour market and the motor parks will turn to hideouts for criminals, thereby leading to insecurity in the state.
He averred that it will also affect the internally generated revenue profile of the state from the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria and the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
He said, “I am a commuter going to Delta State and I used to travel with Agofure buses, but I am surprised that I came to their park this morning to see that the park is under lock and key.
“In this 21st century, the government locked up a private park and business and forced them to relocate to their park which is uncalled for. By our constitution, everybody is allowed to go about their respective businesses without harassment from any quarter.
“Other Bayelsans are in other states doing their legitimate businesses. Agofure built this property to do his legitimate business. I appeal to President Bola Tinubu to wade into the matter and solve the difficulty commuters and private park owners are going through in Bayelsa State.”
Secretary of the Bayelsa State branch of the RTEAN, Comrade Anengima Jonah, bemoaned the policy as the terminal is not built for vehicles of transport unions, but for executive and government-owned transportation schemes, noting that the policy will kill private businesses around the various motor parks.
Jonah said that the gazetted transport unions have succeeded in mopping up large numbers of unemployed youths across the state and urged the state government to have a solid discussion with the unions before going further with the enforcement order, as that is the surest way to resolve the vexing issue.
Metro
Days After Massacre Of 16 Farmers, Armed Herdsmen Return To Benue Community, Kill Many Villagers
“Suspected armed Herdsmen came to Ayin Benue State yesterday night to attack our people again. This attack claimed the lives of multiple villagers and we are still recovering corpses in the bush till now,” a top source told SaharaReporters.
“However, the traditional rulers are trying to hide the situation from escalating.”
Attacks by suspected herdsmen in Benue State have led to the killing of at least 5000 persons in recent times.
The latest attack is coming three days after 16 farmers were ambushed and killed on Kashimbila Road in the state while returning to their community in Mbandwa ward.
The farmers were returning home on Monday when they were ambushed.
Their bodies were dumped in the river by the gunmen.
SaharaReporters had also reported that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had withdrawn all corps members from Mbaa community in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State due to escalating violent attacks.
Confirming the development on Thursday, the Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations of NYSC in Benue, Yahuza Adamu, said the withdrawal was prompted by incessant security threats in the area.
“Since the beginning of incessant attacks on Mbaa Community which shares boundary with the Republic of Cameroon, NYSC withdrew all Corps Members from the area, and has not posted any there till date,” the statement had read.
The situation in Mbaa has worsened, with suspected armed herders reportedly killing over 20 people, including 16 farmers whose bodies were discovered in River Katsina Ala.
Adamu assured parents and guardians that NYSC remains vigilant and committed to the welfare of corps members.
He stated that the NYSC Kwande Local Government Inspector had conducted a headcount, confirming that all corps members were safe and accounted for.
“Hence, all Corps Members serving in Jato Acka Turan, which is far away from the affected community, are not exposed to any security threat,” he added.
The NYSC official stressed that the organisation takes proactive measures to safeguard corps members.
Credit: SaharaReporters
Halima Ibrahim, a Senior Secondary (SS) 2 student of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Potiskum, died on Thursday, following the collapse of their school building during lessons.
Four other students of the school are currently receiving treatment in hospital as a result of the tragedy.
Dr Bukar Aji, Permanent Secretary, Yobe Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, confirmed the incident at a news conference on Thursday in Damaturu.
He said the incident occurred at about 1 pm on Thursday, when a block of two classrooms collapsed on the students during lessons.
“Actually, what happened was that a block, which contains two classrooms, came down to the corridors of the classroom.
“Unfortunately, five of our students were affected.
‘‘One of them gave up along the line, and four of them are in good condition, according to the medical doctor who was in the hospital,” Aji said.
The permanent secretary said that there were about 50 students altogether in both classes, with each class containing 25 students.
“They were in session and they are SS2 students.
“We visited them and actually, they were traumatised,” Aji said.
The permanent secretary said the ministry was waiting for an official report from the school so as to inform the state Ministry of Housing about the development.
“ The ministry is more competent to identify the root cause of the problem and identify measures to prevent future occurrence,” he said.
(NAN)
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Jato Aka Turan community in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State are currently crying for an urgent security help as they said that herdsmen who launched fresh attacks in the community have killed no fewer than 20 people in two days.
According to the corps members who spoke with SaharaReporters on Wednesday, the herdsmen in an uninterrupted sustained attack between Sunday and Tuesday killed at least 20 and injured several others, throwing the community into chaos and tension.
The corps members lamented that Jato Aka Turan community, which is not far from a Nigerian Army base, is known for security vulnerability as they often watch in broad daylight how more than 20 motorcyles loaded with armed men and ammunition pass around the villages.
They said that the security situation in the community is so bad that their Local Government Inspector (LGI) hardly comes to the community except for the monthly clearance exercise, and that the LGI told them that if the attacks enveloped Jato Aka Turan community, they should move to neighbouring Adikpo community.
A corps member serving in another community in the state told SaharaReporters on Wednesday, “I have been able to speak with one of us at Jato Aka Turan, the affected area of Kwande Local Government Area.
“He said Jato is a far remote village from Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area Secretariat main town.
“The LGI hardly goes there except for clearance. Likewise, the corps members there have their own activities and CDS there. They are about 21 serving corps members there in Jato Aka Turan, Kwande LGA.
“The corper who I spoke with, who is currently serving at Jato Aka Turan emphasised on challenges and said that they are not safe and they have reported to the LGI.
“According to him, the LGI said when the issue gets there, in their community, they should move to Adikpo.
“They also went to the nearby military checkpoint, a mini barrack and complained to them. The military men said anytime there is a problem, they (corpers) should contact them.
“Corps members in Jato Aka Turan often watch in broad daylight more than 20 bikes loaded with men and ammunition who head to the nearby communities to fight herdsmen.
“When they (vigilante) relent, herdsmen attack and kill the villagers. If nothing is done about the corps members, God forbid, I fear they might be affected.”
A Facebook user with name, Wase Richie Aondofa, who posted about the attacks on Facebook with some gory photos wrote,
“Pictorial evidence of series of attacks in different communities in my village yesterday, at Jato Aka Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State by the Fulani herdsmen.
“Several lives were lost and properties worth millions destroyed. We are calling on all the relevant agencies responsible for this to please come for our rescue.
“We are dying! My village, Jato Aka Turan, Kwande Local Government Area, is no longer safe. God may your will be done.”
SaharaReporters also got a screenshot of a WhatsApp status of one the corps members which read, “Fulani X men (Fulani herdsmen) killed not less than 20 people between Sunday and yesterday (Tuesday) in a village very close to my PPA centre (Place of Primary Assignment) and NYSC staff told us in camp ‘No insecurity in Benue’.
“This fight started in 2014, meaning NYSC staff are aware of this fight. Today, helicopter fly over the school where I teach (PPA).
“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) went to the village to shell the area. The students started running when they heard the sound of the bomb. We sent them back to the class.”
However, when SaharaReporters called the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Anene Sewuese Catherine, for reaction and comment on the police action on the incident, she rejected the calls.
Anene however sent a text message to our reporter saying, “Can’t talk now. What’s going on?”
However, till the time of filing this report, the police spokesperson has not responded to a text message.
Credit: SaharaReporters
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