Category: cover

No fewer than five people have been killed after bandits invaded two communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

Locals claimed that two soldiers were among the casualties, but security agencies are yet to confirm this.

According to residents, the affected communities, Mgbaigbe and Mbaitye, were attacked on Wednesday by gunmen who stormed the area in a coordinated assault.

The attackers were said to have ambushed a military surveillance team in the area, allegedly killing two soldiers in the process.

Several villages in Turan land, including Moon, Mbaikyor, Mbadura, Kumakwagh, and Yaav, have suffered repeated attacks in recent times, forcing residents to flee to Jato-Acka, where they are now taking refuge.

President General of Mdzough U Tiv Worldwide, Retired Comptroller of Prisons, Iorbee Ihagh, confirmed the attack to our correspondent on Thursday, urging residents to defend themselves against the bandits.

“These attackers, who are Fulani herdsmen, are gradually taking over Benue. If they succeed in capturing Jato-Acka, the headquarters of Turan, then the entire Tiv nation is in danger. Jato-Acka is the ancestral home of the Tiv people, just as Ile-Ife is to the Yoruba,” Ihagh said.

He commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his developmental strides but urged him to step up efforts to secure lives and property in the state.

Ihagh also called on the Tiv people to revive their traditional defence mechanisms.

“In the 19th century, our ancestors defeated the Fulani during the jihad war using poisonous arrows. I am calling on our people to go back to their traditional ways and defend themselves. Enough of running away,” he declared.

Confirming the incident, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Joe Har, said efforts were ongoing to verify the casualties.

“Yes, I heard about the attack in Kwande, but I cannot confirm the number of casualties because I have been unable to reach the military commandant in the area due to poor communication networks,” he said.

When contacted, the spokesman for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, neither confirmed nor denied the incident.

“We have officers managing the crisis in Kwande,” she said.

The attack adds to the wave of violent incidents that have plagued Benue communities in recent times, with residents calling for urgent government intervention.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday lauded the National Assembly for its decisive and patriotic ratification of the State of Emergency proclamation in Rivers State.

He said the move is a critical step to restoring stability after a protracted political crisis that paralysed governance in the oil-rich state and endangered national economic security for over 15 months.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the President’s reaction in a statement he signed Thursday titled, ‘President Tinubu salutes National Assembly for patriotic stand on Rivers State emergency proclamation.’

The President specifically commended the National Assembly’s leadership—Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, other principal officers and members—for “prioritising the security and welfare of Rivers State people above partisan interests and other considerations,” the statement read.

He further acknowledged the lawmakers’ diligent review of classified security briefings, underscoring the urgent need for intervention to prevent further escalation.

“The crisis in Rivers State was at a perilous tipping point, threatening the security of vital oil and gas installations and undermining the national economy and the significant progress we have made in the reforms initiated since our administration commenced in May 2023,” Tinubu remarked.

He continued, “As I detailed in my address to the nation on 18 March, the near-total collapse of governance, threats to federal economic assets, and the risk of widespread violence left no room for hesitation.

“This emergency measure is a lifeline to safeguard livelihoods, secure critical infrastructure, and restore democratic accountability.”

The President affirmed that the six-month emergency will empower the newly-appointed Sole Administrator to stabilise Rivers State, address systemic breakdowns, and facilitate dialogue among conflicting parties.

Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the National Assembly to advance peace, economic resilience, and equitable development across Nigeria.

“Today’s decision exemplifies what our nation can achieve when unity of purpose and patriotism guide the action of leaders.

“We remain steadfast in pursuing a safer, more prosperous Nigeria—one where every citizen’s potential is safeguarded and nurtured,” said the president.

He thanked all Nigerians for their understanding and urged all stakeholders to support the restoration of peace in Rivers State.

 

The Sole Administrator for River State, Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (retd.), has arrived in the state to resume duties.

Ibas arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport at about 11:25 am on Thursday and was received by top officials and security personnel.

The sole administrator, accompanied by the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 16, immediately proceeded to Government House, Port Harcourt afterwards.

Ibas has already arrived at the Government House and was conducted around by some government officials.

He is currently in a closed-door meeting with senior security officers, Federal Government delegation and state government officials.

He was sworn in on Wednesday by President Bola Tinubu.

 

The Narcotics Control Commission in Ghana has arrested a suspected Nigerian drug kingpin, Uchechukwu Chima, in an intelligence-led raid at his hideout in Accra.

The 56-year-old suspect was arrested on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, following the discovery of 192kg of cocaine and 0.42kg of heroin, with an estimated street value of $2.1 million.

The acting Director of Public Affairs and International Relations at NACOC, Francis Amoah, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Wednesday, March 19.

According to the statement, field tests confirmed the seized substances as cocaine and heroin.

Authorities believe Chima has been a key player in previous drug-related seizures and arrests in the country.

Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo gave them a 2-0 win over Bahrain on Thursday.

The runaway Asian Group C leaders failed to sparkle on a chilly night in Saitama until Crystal Palace forward Kamada pounced for the opener in the 66th minute.

Kubo added another in the 87th minute as Japan punched their ticket to next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

It will be their eighth straight World Cup appearance.

Australia’s 5-1 home win over Indonesia earlier in the evening meant Japan would have clinched their place even with a draw.

But Kamada made sure they did it in style in front of an expectant crowd of just under 60,000.

He latched onto Kubo’s reverse pass and dispatched the ball past Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla just three minutes after coming on as a substitute.

The National Blood Service Agency has called on Nigerians, particularly residents of the Federal Capital Territory to donate blood to support victims of the tanker explosion that occurred on the Aya-Karu expressway, Abuja.

The NBSA, in a statement on Thursday signed by its Director General, Prof Saleh Yuguda, said the incident resulted in multiple casualties, many of whom require immediate blood transfusions.

Yuguda stated that hospitals and emergency response teams are working tirelessly to save lives, but an adequate blood supply is crucial to their efforts.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency, the incident involved a Compressed Natural Gas truck that lost control and crashed into another truck along AYA-Karu expressway on Wednesday at about 7pm.

NEMA said six fatalities were recorded, 18 vehicles burnt, but the number of injured victims are yet to determined.

It added that the injured victims were taken to National Hospital, State House Clinic, Karu General Hospital, and Customs Clinic, Karu for medical attention.

Meanwhile, the NBSA said, “We urge all eligible donors to visit designated blood donation centres and hospitals across the FCT to make voluntary blood donations. Your generosity can make the difference between life and death for those in critical condition.