Again, herders kill nine in Ortom’s LG, lead mine collapses on three

• Reps probes NYSC security tips on ransom payment

Suspected armed herdsmen have, again, killed no fewer than nine persons in Guma Local Council of Benue State. Revealing this to newsmen, yesterday, Chairman of the council, Caleb Aba, stated: “On Friday last week, my younger brother went to the farm with four others at the outskirts of Gbajimba town to harvest rice when the attackers ambushed them. The other four ran away, but being the youngest, my brother could not escape. I have been following it up until this morning when I learnt that he was killed. We have not recovered the body.

“On Sunday evening, Gbajimba market day, and the NKST church had its holy communion; so those who were coming from the church and those leaving the market were attacked. Four people were killed and several others injured are receiving treatment at the Air Force Base Hospital in Makurdi.”

He added that on Monday morning the bandits killed another four persons at Ulever community.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine Anene, only confirmed the killing of four persons and others that sustained injuries. 

ALSO in Benue, not less than three miners died at a lead mining site in Tojir-Ayilamo, Logo Local Council. The Guardian gathered that the accident occurred in the mine site yesterday morning when the victims were working in the mine and it collapsed on them. 

When contacted, Anene said she was yet to receive information about the incident.

THE House of Representatives, yesterday, began the probe into the alleged insertion of the advice for payment of ransom into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) pamphlets containing security tips by the corps’ leadership.

The lawmakers were disturbed that the insertion of such a clause by the NYSC in its Security Tips Manual portrayed the inability of the government to provide security on the highways, as well as government’s surrender to bandits.

Minority Leader of the house, Ndudi Elumelu, who raised the concern in a motion during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, noted that the inclusion of the section showed a complete collapse of the country’s security system.