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Benue Killings: The CDS Calls For Collaboration, Promised To Fish Out Attackers.
The Nigeria Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has called on stakeholders in Benue, calling for collaboration to stem the renewed spate of killings in the food-producing state.
“The Armed Forces are with you. We are pained about what’s happening. For me, it’s a personal thing. I don’t want to be the chief of defense of our Armed Forces when people are being killed. No,” General Musa said on Tuesday during a meeting with traditional rulers in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
“We have gone to Liberia, we’re going to Sierra Leone, we’ve gone to other countries, and have brought peace. Why not in our own country?
“So, I want to assure you, no member of the Armed Forces is going to be against one. If we notice anybody, we’re ready to prosecute that person. But we are going to count on your support so that we can be able to achieve [peace] and work together. We must achieve [peace] together,” he added.
He cited the success recorded in Zango Kataf in Kaduna State through collaboration with stakeholders and believes a similar thing can be achieved in Benue.
The CDS said, “I’m sure you’re all aware I’m from Zango Kataf, and I know when you hear Zango Kataf, you know that we are also having similar issues on the ground. But if you notice, for the past two years, the issues of Zango Kataf have gone, and what have we done?
“One, we made them understand that, look, we need to talk to ourselves because a house that is divided cannot stand. It is only when we are together that we can be able to face our common enemy, and that’s very critical.”
Armed Forces ‘Will Go After Them’
Scores of people have been killed in the food-producing state in the last few weeks following renewed attacks, with many displaced and others severely injured.
That has prompted national outrage and protests.
However, the CDS during the meeting directed military commanders to go after the assailants, promising to fish them out.
“We must find out where they are. We must go after them. And that’s the directive I’m giving my commanders,” he said.
“We have had some areas where we think they are holing up, where they are gathering. We’re going to go after them so that we can dislodge them. We shouldn’t wait until they come to attack people.”
The fresh wave of killings in the North-Central State has prompted President Bola Tinubu to schedule a visit to the state on Wednesday after directing security agencies to go after the attackers and restore peace to the communities.
“In preparation for the visit, President Tinubu has already dispatched the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, heads of intelligence agencies, the National Security Adviser, and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees to Benue State.
“The President is expected to hold a town hall meeting with all stakeholders during the visit,” a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed on Monday.
The Presient also sympathised with the people of the state and those who lost their loved ones in the attacks.
Former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has shared an amusing anecdote about the unique injury treatment preferred by his Nigerian ex-teammates, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.
Iheanacho and Ndidi became integral members of the Foxes squad after joining in 2017, playing a crucial role in the club’s historic 2021 FA Cup victory.
The duo shared a strong bond with Vardy during their time at the King Power Stadium, often engaging in light-hearted banter with their teammates.
Vardy, a Leicester City legend after 13 years with the club, departed last summer for Serie A side Cremonese. Iheanacho and Ndidi have also since moved on from the Foxes.
Speaking on a recent podcast, Vardy recounted how the Super Eagles stars had a peculiar remedy for minor injuries.
He explained that Iheanacho and Ndidi would insist on using a special “juju cream” brought back from Nigeria, refusing any other oils or balms offered by the club’s medical staff.
“They used to get injured, just little knocks, then they’d go back to Nigeria for one day literally, come back, and then they’ve got a nice big tub of juju cream,” Vardy said.
“That was the only thing that the masseuses were allowed to massage on the injured areas. They used to tell us that they used to get it from a Nigerian witch doctor.”
While Vardy’s story adds a humorous, if slightly controversial, layer to the players’ time at the club, the “juju cream” was likely part of a running joke.
Ndidi later clarified on social media that the substance was simply local shea butter, known as ‘ori’ in Nigeria.
Some aspirants loyal to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who failed to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets in the recently concluded National Assembly primaries, have approached the court to challenge the outcome of the exercise.
The aggrieved aspirants are challenging the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the results of the primaries and the list of candidates submitted by the party to the electoral body.
Report quoted sources within the party as saying the aspirants decided to seek judicial redress after expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the primaries.
The aspirants have reportedly engaged the services of the law firm of Remi Olatubora, SAN, to challenge the outcome of the exercise, the report also mentioned.
Those involved include Gbenga Elegbeleye (Ondo North Senatorial District), Dr Taiwo Fasoranti (Ondo Central Senatorial District), Leke Akingboye (Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency), Rasaq Obe (Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency), Kayode Ijalana (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency), Oyerinmade Matthew (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency), and Olumuyiwa Daramola (Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency).
The legal action has reportedly generated concerns among some party stakeholders, who fear it could affect the APC’s preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has slammed the Federal Government over its gifts of houses to judges.
Speaking at the Housing TV Africa on Thursday, Falana demanded the provision of the law that stipulated such a gesture.
He charged the Federal Government to also build houses for university professors and other civil and public servants, noting that what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.
“”We have got to a stage in the country where we have to challenge the special privileges given to the rich and top public officers in the country.
“I was very sad when I saw that the Federal Government was handing over the keys of houses to judges, and I asked myself, ‘Under what law are we operating?’ Because it’s discriminatory and illegal.
“You treat everyone equally in our country. So you can’t take out judges. Judges are entitled to accommodation by the way. They must live comfortably and we’ll secured.
“But, other citizens must be equally provided for. If you don’t do it, you can be challenged, and that is going to happen very soon because what is good for the goose is good for the gander,” he said.
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