According to Nivo News, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has expressed deep sorrow over the recent terrorist attacks on several communities in Borgu Local Government Area of the state.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the governor described the assaults as brutal and inhumane acts carried out by criminal elements. He noted that the attacks resulted in the loss of lives, the abduction of residents and the destruction of means of livelihood across the affected communities.

Governor Bago conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families, stressing that those killed at the Kasuwan Daji Market in Sukumbara village included both Muslims and Christians from different communities within Borgu Local Government Area.

He lamented that the state was beginning the new year on such a tragic note but urged residents to remain steadfast in faith and united. The governor assured that his administration is working closely with the Federal Government and security agencies to strengthen security and restore peace in the affected areas.

He further disclosed that a joint security task force has been deployed and is actively pursuing the attackers with the aim of rescuing those abducted. Governor Bago also offered prayers for the repose of the souls of the deceased, the safe return of the kidnapped victims, the recovery of the injured and the restoration of livelihoods destroyed during the attacks.

According to Nivo News, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, has called for United States military intervention in Benue State, urging American authorities to carry out airstrikes against armed herdsmen allegedly terrorising farming communities across the state.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Aondoakaa made the call over the weekend while speaking at a consultation dinner held in Makurdi for political stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He alleged that armed herdsmen currently dominate more than 15 of Benue State’s 23 local government areas, subjecting residents to persistent and violent attacks.

He lamented that the insecurity has forced widespread displacement, with thousands of women and children driven from their ancestral homes and now living in Internally Displaced Persons camps under harsh and inhumane conditions.

Describing the attackers as terrorists, Aondoakaa argued that foreign military intervention was long overdue in Benue, insisting that those who entered the state under the pretext of grazing but later took up arms against indigenous communities must be confronted decisively. He maintained that livelihoods have been destroyed, communities occupied, and ancestral lands seized as a result of the violence.

The former minister expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as an insufficient response by the Benue State Government, stressing that the scale of the crisis demands urgent and robust action. He called on the state authorities to reinforce local security structures and deploy all available resources to restore peace and stability.

Aondoakaa, who is seeking to contest the governorship to succeed Governor Hyacinth Alia, pledged to make security a top priority if elected, while urging political leaders across party lines to unite in confronting the crisis. He also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to address national security challenges and appealed for sustained support to prevent further bloodshed in Benue State.

He further condemned recent deadly attacks in the state, including the reported killing of more than 200 people in Yelewata community, reaffirming his commitment to ensuring the safety and prosperity of Benue residents.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday held a closed-door meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris, where both leaders exchanged views on global developments and the future of Africa, according to Nivo News. The discussion reportedly took place during a private lunch in the French capital and focused on Africa’s role in the evolving international order and shared concerns affecting the continent’s growth and stability.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The engagement reflects President Tinubu’s continued diplomatic outreach aimed at deepening cooperation among African leaders and strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnerships in pursuit of common continental interests. The meeting also highlighted the emphasis on unity and collaboration as Africa navigates complex global challenges.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has issued firm directives to top security officials, including the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, to track down those responsible for the deadly attack on Kasuwan Daji community in Niger State. He also ordered the immediate rescue of all abducted victims.

The President gave the directive following recent attacks that claimed the lives of villagers in Niger State, allegedly carried out by terrorists fleeing military pressure in Sokoto and Zamfara after a United States airstrike on Christmas Eve. He strongly condemned the killings and the abduction of women and children, while extending condolences to the affected families and the people of Niger State.

Reaffirming the government’s resolve, President Tinubu vowed that the perpetrators and anyone found aiding or enabling them would be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice, stressing that the country must remain united and resolute in confronting threats to national security.