News
Gov. Ortom chairs Benue committee to stave kidnappings in schools
Benue has set up a committee to look into and forestall insecurity and kidnapping in its schools.
The committee has Gov. Samuel Ortom as its chairman and the Commissioner for Education, Prof .Dennis Ityavyar, as the alternate chairman.
The committee is to look at the issue of security in schools, especially boarding schools and the ones at the borders.
The commissioner told our correspondent in Makurdi on Wednesday that the Ministry of Education already compiled a comprehensive data of all primary and secondary schools students in the state.
He added that the ministry had directed the Benue State University (BSU) and other tertiary institutions to immediately update their respective data and forward same to it.
“We don’t have up-to-date information on tertiary institutions, but we know that it is important for us to do so. We have asked BSU and other tertiary institutions to give us their latest data.
“We do not expect anything to happen in any of our schools because we have been proactive,’’ he said
Prof. Ityavyar added that state’s Security Council had noted incidents of students abduction in parts of the country hence the establishment of the committee.
He said the committee was not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that boarding schools and schools located in border communities were safe.
“We are doing something to ensure that we are not taken unawares, but our steps will not be discussed in the media.
Our correspondent reports that three students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, were kidnapped recently but were released unhurt four days after their aabduction.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported its seventh partial grid collapse in 2024. Despite the recurring issue, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, reassured the public that efforts to restore power are well underway, with about 90% of substations receiving bulk power.
Mbah noted that the Azura Power Station initiated the grid recovery, although a minor setback occurred. However, power supply has been restored to the Abuja region and other key distribution centers. The Ibom Gas Generating Station remained unaffected, continuing to supply power to the South-South region.
An investigation into the cause of the collapse will commence once full grid restoration is achieved.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic tanker explosion in Jigawa State, which claimed over 100 lives. In a statement issued by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, extended condolences to the affected families, praying for strength and comfort in their time of grief.
Shettima assured the public that the federal government is mobilizing resources to support the injured and assist those affected. He has directed the immediate deployment of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide aid. The Vice President also stressed the need for a review of fuel transportation safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
In a separate statement, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu offered her condolences to Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi and the people of Jigawa, praying for peace and comfort for the families affected. She called the incident “unfortunate” and extended prayers for the recovery of the injured and the repose of the souls lost in the tragedy.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has revealed that it intercepted a total of 10,598 pieces of arms and 114,929 rounds of ammunition valued at N9.58 billion over the past six years. Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made this disclosure during a press conference on enforcement activities in Zone A.
Adeniyi highlighted that 60% of these seizures occurred in 2023, reflecting the Customs’ increased efforts to curb arms smuggling. He also mentioned that recent operations such as Operation Whirlwind and Operation Swift Sting are part of a strategic response to tackle evolving smuggling tactics.
In addition to arms seizures, the Customs CG announced the largest pangolin scale seizure since 2020, with 9,493 kg of scales confiscated in collaboration with the Wildlife Justice Commission. The joint operation led to four arrests across Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos. The NCS continues to intensify efforts against wildlife trafficking, targeting supply routes in northern Nigeria and border areas.
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