Author: Opalim Lifted

The Tor Tiv of Benue State, His Royal Majesty James Ayatse, has declared the recent wave of violence in the region a “calculated, genocidal invasion”, dismissing claims that the attacks stem from farmer-herder disputes. Speaking during a stakeholders meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Makurdi on Wednesday, Ayatse strongly refuted the narrative that the killings were a result of communal tensions. “It is not herder-farmers clashes, it is not communal clashes, it is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes,” the monarch said. Benue State has been gripped by renewed terror, with over 100 residents reportedly slaughtered in coordinated assaults by suspected…

By Abraham Maina Joda Can you say “La Campagne Tropicana Gu Taraba” three times fast? Win or lose, you’re in for a journey to Nigeria’s best-kept natural secret –Taraba State. A place where whispering hills, sacred lakes, and untamed forests have waited patiently, Taraba is about to have its moment under the tourism spotlight. And it’s not just any spotlight—it’s the La Campagne Tropicana spotlight. Yes, the same African-themed resort experience that turned Ibeju-Lekki into a cultural playground is now heading to Ibi, Nwonyo, and the majestic hills of Ardo Kola. Welcome to the Cultural Blockbuster of the Year The…

At least 59 Palestinians were killed and over 220 wounded after Israeli tanks shelled a crowd of people waiting for food aid in southern Gaza on Tuesday, according to medics — one of the deadliest incidents in the territory’s worsening humanitarian catastrophe. Graphic footage shared online showed bodies strewn across a road, while witnesses recounted scenes of chaos and horror. The crowd had gathered along a major eastern road in Khan Younis, where aid trucks typically pass. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces initially allowed the group to advance before opening fire. “All of a sudden, they let us move forward…

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has firmly rejected the idea of citizens resorting to self-defence in response to relentless killings across the state, warning that such actions would only worsen insecurity. Speaking during an interview on AIT on Tuesday, Alia emphasised the dangers of citizens taking up arms, stating that emotional or sentimental reactions could further expose communities to risk. “Each time I speak about this, I get very passionate about it,” he said. “But I’m cautiously guiding citizens. It is not just advisable for you to say we’ll pick out knives, machetes and stick and get out there to…

Former Senate President David Mark has issued a stark warning to the federal government, saying its continued failure to halt deadly attacks in Benue State may leave citizens with no choice but to take the law into their own hands. In a statement issued by his special adviser, Paul Mumeh, Mark said the relentless violence has devastated communities, claiming numerous lives and destroying homes and livelihoods. He described the crisis as a direct result of the government’s failure to uphold its constitutional obligation to protect its citizens. “The primary responsibility of any government is the welfare and security of its…

Nigerian stars 2Baba, Falz, and Oxlade have voiced outrage over the recent mass killings in Benue State, condemning the government’s silence and the lack of media coverage. Benue State, in Nigeria’s north-central region, is reeling from a wave of deadly attacks that have claimed over 200 lives in just days, sparking nationwide grief and anger. On June 14, suspected herdsmen launched brutal assaults on the Yelewata and Daudu communities in Guma Local Government Area, killing more than 100 people. By Sunday, the death toll had reportedly doubled, as the violence spiralled with minimal intervention from authorities. The scale of the…

The Ghana drunkards association has issued a stern ultimatum to the government, demanding a reduction in the prices of alcoholic beverages within three weeks. The association’s demand comes in the wake of the Ghana cedi’s recent appreciation against major international currencies. In a viral video on social media, the association said despite the cedi’s strengthening, the cost of alcoholic drinks remains prohibitively high. Moses Drybones, president of the association, said there is a recent 15 percent price increase, which has adversely affected operators of drinking joints across the country. The group urged President John Mahama to engage with them within…

Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, in a strongly worded statement has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, citing his absence and silence following the recent massacre of over 200 people in Benue State. In a post titled “What cannot be hidden in leadership”, Obi tore into what he described as the dangerous consequences of leadership without competence, compassion, character, or capacity. “Leadership of a nation is such that it’s either succeeding or failing—none can be hidden,” he wrote on X. The former Anambra state governor’s remarks come amid national outrage over the brutal killings in Benue and devastating floods…

Pope Leo XIV has said a prayer for the people of Benue over the recent killings in the state. On June 14, over 100 people were reportedly killed in attacks by suspected herdsmen in Yelewata and Daudu communities, in Guma LGA. The attack comes less than 48 hours after the killing of 25 people in Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa communities in Makurdi LGA. Reports indicate that many internally displaced persons (IDPs) and farmers were killed, with some reportedly burned alive in makeshift shelters. Speaking just before delivering the Sunday Angelus prayer, the pope prayed for Nigeria, adding that he was…

President Bola Tinubu has issued a renewed and urgent directive to security chiefs, demanding swift and decisive action to end the spiralling violence in Benue State. In response to fresh reprisal attacks that have left scores dead, the president has mobilised top intelligence officials, military personnel, and police forces to take control of security operations across the crisis-hit region. The presidency spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. “Enough is enough,” Tinubu declared, describing the persistent bloodshed as “inhuman and anti-progress.” He stressed that those behind the killings, regardless of their affiliations must be arrested and prosecuted…