Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, disclosed that more than one thousand households have been displaced due to a series of violent attacks by bandits across various communities within an eleven-day period. While hosting international humanitarian officials at the Government House in Makurdi, the governor outlined the severe challenges faced by over five hundred thousand displaced persons living across multiple camps and host communities, who are struggling with inadequate shelter, limited clean water, and poor healthcare. Although the state government has partnered with international agencies to enroll vulnerable individuals in health insurance schemes, provide land, and build shelters, Governor Alia emphasized his administration's ongoing commitment to tackling the root causes of displacement, protecting vulnerable groups, and restoring peace and social justice to the affected areas.

The Benue and Zamfara State Houses of Assembly have rejected summons from the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, calling the move an unconstitutional overreach of federal legislative powers. The federal committee, chaired by Michael Etaba,summoned Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia, Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, and their respective assembly leaders to explain why the House of Representatives should not take over their state legislative functions following a petition by a group called Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, which includes Emmanuel Onwudiwe. Led by Majority Leader Saater Tiseer, alongside lawmakers Bemdoo Ipusu, Michael Audu, and Peter Uche, the Benue Assembly passed a resolution instructing Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh to ignore the invitation. They argued that the National Assembly, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, was misinformed and trying to usurp the duties of an autonomous, elected state legislature. To protect its independence, the Benue Assembly filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Makurdi to block the federal intervention. Similarly, the Zamfara State House of Assembly dismissed the summons. Kabiru Dangulbi, the Zamfara House Committee Chairman on Information, declared that Governor Dauda Lawal would not attend the illegal hearing, stating that the invitation lacked legal standing under the constitution. However, Kabiru Dangulbi noted that Zamfara would not join Benue in taking legal action, expressing confidence that the federal lawmakers would eventually realize their mistake and drop the matter.

Suspected armed herdsmen invaded the Efeyi community in the Ugboju District of the Otukpo Local Government Area in Benue State, resulting in multiple fatalities and leaving several other residents wounded. The unprovoked dawn attack drew strong condemnation from local council leadership and the state governor, who praised the state police command for a swift response that neutralized two of the attackers during a subsequent clearance operation. This violent incident follows a series of similar security breaches across neighboring councils, heightening concerns over rural safety and agricultural security in the region.