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‘No Election While We Are Dying’ — Benue South Youths Block Roads

Published

5 months ago

May 17, 2026

‘No Election While We Are Dying’ — Benue South Youths Block Roads

Angry youths in Benue South on Saturday staged a protest during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, demanding urgent government intervention over persistent killings and insecurity across Idoma-speaking communities in the state.

The protesters barricaded a major road in Apa Local Government Area, disrupting traffic flow and political activities as the APC conducted its primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Carrying a coffin and placards with inscriptions such as “No Election While We Are Dying” and “Stop The Killings In Benue”, the demonstrators chanted slogans rejecting political activities while residents continue to face repeated attacks.

Witnesses said the protest was led largely by youths who accused political leaders of neglecting worsening insecurity in rural communities, insisting that survival should be prioritised over elections.

The demonstrators said communities in Apa and surrounding areas of Benue South have faced repeated attacks allegedly carried out by suspected armed herders and other armed groups, forcing many residents to flee their homes.

The protest comes amid a fresh wave of violent incidents across Benue State, where several communities have reportedly suffered deadly attacks in recent days.

In one of the latest incidents, at least seven people were reportedly killed in Channel One community, a border settlement in Ukemberagya/Tswarev Council Ward of Logo Local Government Area.

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Local sources said the attackers stormed the community at night, shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.

A community member identified as Amos said the attack occurred along the Arufu–Wukari axis near the Taraba border, describing it as sudden and coordinated.

Community leaders later confirmed the incident, naming some of the victims and reporting that several others sustained injuries and were receiving treatment in nearby health facilities.

Officials said those in critical condition were transferred to hospitals in Ugba and Anyiin, while others remain under observation.

A local leader in the area, Joseph Anawah, confirmed that multiple fatalities were recorded and called for urgent security intervention.

He also alleged that attackers often operate from deserted settlements believed to serve as hideouts for armed groups, urging authorities to dismantle such bases.

Anawah further called for a coordinated interstate security operation involving Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States to curb cross-border attacks affecting rural communities.

The Chairman of Logo Local Government Area, Clement Kav, also confirmed the killings, stating that seven people were killed and four others injured during the attack.

Security agencies were reportedly informed, although police authorities said they were still awaiting a formal report at the time of filing the information.

The latest violence adds to a growing pattern of insecurity across Benue State in recent weeks.

In Agatu Local Government Area, gunmen reportedly killed a traditional ruler, his wife, his son, and two other residents in a separate attack.

In another incident in Ushongo Local Government Area, armed men attacked mourners returning from a burial, killing three people and abducting two others.

These repeated attacks have triggered renewed calls from residents, traditional rulers, and civil society groups for intensified security operations to protect vulnerable rural communities.

Many affected residents have been displaced and are currently taking refuge in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps across the state.

Against this backdrop, Saturday’s protesters insisted that political activities, including party primaries, should not continue while communities are under siege.

They called on both the Benue State Government and the Federal Government to deploy stronger security measures, including military clearance operations in affected areas.

As of Saturday evening, authorities were yet to issue a comprehensive response to the protest or the latest killings reported in parts of Benue South and Benue North.

‘No Election While We Are Dying’ — Benue South Youths Block Roads

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Edo Police Arrest 37-Year-Old Man Over Alleged Rape of 70-Year-Old Woman

Published

2 hours ago

October 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Edo Police Arrest Cleric Accused of Making 'Protective Charms' for Kidnap Gangs

Edo State police spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem

Edo Police Arrest 37-Year-Old Man Over Alleged Rape of 70-Year-Old Woman

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 37-year-old man over the alleged rape of a 70-year-old woman in Igueben Local Government Area of the state.

The suspect was taken into custody following the allegation and is being investigated as police work to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported sexual assault.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed the arrest during a briefing on the command’s recent operations and security activities across the state.

Ikoedem said the case was being handled as a serious allegation and that investigators would gather the necessary evidence to determine the next legal steps.

The police have not released the identities of the suspect or the alleged victim. Details of the alleged incident, including when it occurred and the circumstances leading to the suspect’s arrest, have also not been fully disclosed.

The suspect remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court.

The case was among several security developments disclosed by the Edo Police Command.

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The command also reported the recovery of a six-month-old baby allegedly stolen and taken to Imo State, with the child subsequently reunited with the family. Police said suspects connected with the incident were arrested.

Seven suspected cult members were also arrested by operatives of the Otuo Division during an intelligence-led operation targeting cult-related activities.

Police further said a joint clearance operation was conducted in parts of Edo North, particularly areas identified as potential hideouts for criminal elements. According to the command, no kidnapping incident was recorded in the affected areas during the period under review.

The command also disclosed arrests linked to an allegation involving the stripping of a young girl and the circulation of material relating to the incident on social media.

The police urged residents to provide useful information that could assist security agencies in preventing crime and protecting vulnerable people.

The investigation into the alleged rape of the 70-year-old woman in Edo is ongoing, with further action expected to depend on the outcome of the police investigation.

Edo Police Arrest 37-Year-Old Man Over Alleged Rape of 70-Year-Old Woman

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FG Declares Thursday Public Holiday for Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary

Published

22 hours ago

September 30, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

FG Declares Thursday Public Holiday for Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary

The Federal Government has declared Thursday, October 1, 2026, a public holiday to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government on Wednesday, congratulating Nigerians at home and abroad on the national celebration.

The minister urged Nigerians to use the occasion to promote national unity, patriotism, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, while reflecting on the sacrifices of the country’s founding fathers and heroines.

Tunji-Ojo said peace and stability remained important to national development and called on citizens to remain committed to building a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.

The minister also assured Nigerians that the Federal Government remained committed to strengthening national security, improving public safety and creating an environment where citizens could live and work with confidence.

The 2026 celebration marks 66 years of Nigeria’s independence, following the country’s attainment of independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960.

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The Federal Government is marking the anniversary under the theme, “From Reforms to Stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s Renewed Hope for Shared Prosperity.” The anniversary programme was earlier announced as a low-key celebration.

As part of the programme, an Independence Day Public Lecture is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to deliver a nationwide broadcast on Thursday, October 1.

The President is also expected to participate in other anniversary activities in Lagos, including the premiere of a documentary on the late businessman and politician MKO Abiola at the National Theatre.

The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to use the Independence Day celebration to reflect on the country’s journey since 1960 and renew their commitment to a united and peaceful Nigeria.

The October 1 public holiday applies nationwide, giving workers and other citizens an official day off to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence Day.

FG Declares Thursday Public Holiday for Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary

metro

Five Remanded Over ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts in Borno

Published

22 hours ago

September 30, 2026

Trends Admin

Five Remanded Over ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts in Borno

Five men have been remanded in custody in Maiduguri, Borno State, after they were arraigned over the alleged printing and wearing of “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts.

The defendants — Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21 — were arrested on September 25 around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri, according to a First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department.

Police alleged that the five men conspired to print and wear the T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go”, with the intention of causing a breach of public peace in the area.

They were subsequently charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.

The defendants appeared before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri and pleaded not guilty to the allegations. Their lawyers subsequently applied for bail.

The court remanded the five men in custody and adjourned the matter to October 6, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application. The substantive case was also listed for October 26, 2026.

The police case centres on the alleged intention behind the production and wearing of the shirts, with the authorities maintaining that the conduct was capable of causing a breach of public peace. The charges, rather than the political slogan alone, form the basis of the criminal proceedings.

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The arrests have generated controversy, particularly over the balance between freedom of expression and public-order laws.

Amnesty International condemned the detention, arguing that wearing a shirt expressing political dissent should not, by itself, constitute a criminal offence. The organisation called for the men’s release and urged the authorities to protect the rights to freedom of expression and association.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Borno State also condemned the arrests. The party said the men were being detained for expressing a political opinion and called for their immediate release. The party’s position is separate from the police allegations before the court.

There have also been claims that the arrests were politically directed, including an allegation that a senior political figure in Borno ordered the action. However, such claims have not been independently established, and the police report cited in the case does not establish that a political figure ordered the arrests.

The development comes as political activity increases ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties and supporters using different platforms to express criticism of the Federal Government and promote alternative political positions.

The case has consequently drawn attention to the application of freedom of expression, political dissent and public-order laws in Nigeria.

For now, the five men remain defendants in an ongoing criminal case. They have pleaded not guilty, and the allegations against them have yet to be determined by the court.