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Benue Communities Plunged Into Chaos: Fulani Herdsman Murdered, Dozens Of Cattle Slaughtered.

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Tension has escalated in parts of Otukpo Local Government Area, Benue State, following a series of violent attacks that left a Fulani herder dead and over 20 cows slaughtered. The incidents, which occurred between December 4 and 5, have raised fears of further communal clashes and cast doubts on the effectiveness of local security agencies.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Affected communities include Ondo, Ogobia, Ugboju, and Otukpo Nobi, areas previously known for sporadic conflicts. Reports indicate that the situation worsened after allegations surfaced that a key suspect in the attacks was released by police shortly after being arrested, fueling anger and mistrust among residents.

According to local sources, the violence peaked on December 5 when armed men from the Ondo community in Ogobia allegedly ambushed Hassan Sule, a prominent Fulani herder also known as Alhaji Foder. Sule was reportedly traveling on a motorcycle with a labourer to inspect his cattle when the assailants opened fire. The labourer survived with injuries, but Sule was killed instantly.

The attack prompted panic among Fulani families, who alerted Nigerian Army personnel stationed at the Ogobia post. Soldiers reportedly accompanied the herders to recover Sule’s body and engaged the attackers during a subsequent attempted ambush. “The soldiers returned fire instantly and overpowered them. One of the attackers was arrested alive and disarmed,” a source familiar with the operation stated.

However, the arrest appears to have been short-lived, as the suspect was reportedly handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ogoli/Ogboju for questioning and released less than an hour later. Fulani leaders said attempts to engage the DPO were rebuffed, with the officer asserting that the military had no authority to make arrests.

The killings followed a separate attack on December 4, when armed youths from Otukpo Nobi reportedly raided grazing areas, killing over 20 cows and injuring several others. The Benue State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) condemned the attacks and criticised the police response, describing the violence as “coordinated, unprovoked and aimed at instigating a wider crisis.”

In a petition to the Commissioner of Police, MACBAN called for the immediate re-arrest of the released suspect, a full-scale investigation into the killings and livestock destruction, and increased security deployment to prevent further attacks.

A police source, speaking anonymously, stated that on December 5, a Fulani herder reported the attack to the DPO of Ogoli. The source said that a patrol team was mobilised, the corpse was documented and deposited at the mortuary, and the surrounding area was searched for suspects. However, the source was unaware of any arrests or releases as claimed by Fulani leaders.

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Dele Momodu Denies 2027 Ambition, Rejects VP Campaign Poster With Atiku Abubakar.

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A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has dismissed a viral presidential campaign poster linking him as a running mate to Atiku Abubakar.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The poster, tagged “AtiDele 2027,” suggested Atiku as presidential candidate with Momodu as his deputy, but the media entrepreneur described it as a misleading creation aimed at distracting the ADC.

Reacting via his X handle, Momodu clarified that he is not interested in any electoral contest and urged supporters to disregard the circulating image.

He said when he first saw the poster, he assumed it was a joke, but later began receiving repeated messages about it, prompting him to publicly address the issue.

Momodu stressed that he is not contesting any political office, but remains committed to supporting a coalition of parties working to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of weakening Nigeria’s democracy.

He added that he believes the ADC has many capable leaders, stating that he is ready to support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate.

According to him, his role will be to offer support rather than seek personal political ambition, especially as preparations toward future elections continue.

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Hard Times Return As Petrol Price Jumps To N1,440 Per Litre Across Nigeria

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Petrol prices have surged across Nigeria, with filling stations now selling fuel between N1,364 and N1,444 per litre, as rising global crude oil prices continue to pressure the domestic market.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Findings on Thursday evening showed that major marketers such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), MRS, BOVAS, Ardova (AP), and Mobil have adjusted their pump prices to between N1,364 and N1,370 per litre.

Other outlets, including AA Rano, Emedab, Empire Energy, and Ranoil, are selling at even higher rates, ranging from N1,370 to N1,440 per litre.

This represents a sharp increase from about N900 per litre recorded in February 2026.

The latest hike comes just 24 hours after Dangote Refinery and depot operators raised their gantry and ex-depot prices to N1,275 and N1,320 per litre respectively, citing rising global crude oil costs.

Market data on Friday morning showed that Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose to $111 and $105 per barrel, driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel in the Middle East.

The situation has also been worsened by the recent withdrawal of the United Arab Emirates from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), further increasing volatility in the global oil market.

Reacting to the development, the spokesperson of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, said the global oil price increase is directly affecting fuel costs in Nigeria.

He noted that while Dangote Refinery has helped cushion the impact, fluctuations in the international crude market are still influencing domestic pricing.

The continuous rise in petrol prices has sparked fresh calls for government intervention, as Nigerians struggle with worsening economic hardship.

The development comes at a sensitive time as workers mark May Day, with the national minimum wage at N70,000 and the cost of living rising alongside fuel prices edging close to N1,500 per litre.

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AGF Fagbemi Moves To Deregister ADC, Accord, AA And Other Political Parties

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The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has called for the deregistration of several political parties, including the Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party, and Action Peoples Party (APP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Fagbemi made the request before the Federal High Court, arguing that it is unconstitutional to allow political parties that have consistently failed to win electoral seats to remain registered.

His position was presented in an affidavit filed in response to a suit by the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), which is also seeking the deregistration of the affected parties.

The AGF urged strict enforcement of Section 225A of the Nigerian Constitution, stating that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no discretionary power to retain parties that do not meet the required electoral performance threshold.

He further argued that the continued existence of non-performing political parties contributes to ballot paper overcrowding, increases the cost of elections, complicates electoral administration, and weakens the intent of the Constitution.

According to him, the constitutional amendment was introduced to address challenges such as ballot clutter and inefficiencies in the voting process.

Fagbemi also noted that, as the chief law officer of the federation, he is empowered to initiate or support actions aimed at ensuring compliance with constitutional provisions.

Earlier in the proceedings, counsel to the NFFL, Yakubu Ruba (SAN), told the court that the case seeks judicial clarification on constitutional and legal provisions governing the registration and continued recognition of political parties in Nigeria.

He explained that the suit is strictly for constitutional interpretation, insisting that some political parties may have violated the law, and therefore require judicial guidance on their status.

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