Blood Bath In Benue again, as 38 IDPs massacred by unknown gunmen

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Over 38 persons have been murdered and 38 others seriously injured following attack on an Internally displaced persons camp in Mgbam, Nyiev Community in Udei, Guma local government of Benue State.

The attack came barely three days after 52 persons were killed in Umugidi community in Otukpo local government area by gun wielding assailants.

Peoples’ Daily gathered from the locals that the attack took place between 9pm and 10pm on Friday. It was also learnt that majority of those killed were women and children.

District head of Nyiev Community Bernard Shawa said he lost two of his sons during the attack, adding that there had been previous attack on the day of the Presidential election on February 25, 2023 during which 12 persons were killed.

A survivor Mnenna Orkega who lost her 10 year old daughter narrated they they were asleep when they heard sporadic gun shots.

Mnnena said she attempted to escape through the window when an assailant whose identity were not certain grabbed her child and killed her.

Speaking when he visited the scene of the incident, Governor Samuel Ortom described it as ‘unfortunate’, saying that his government will not be provoked to take laws into its hand but will remain law abiding.

He said the President should do more than to send condolence message and direct security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

“I condemn this act. It is most unfortunate. We are law abiding people. We will not be provoked to take arms against anyone. We will allow the law to take its course. I saw the President’s condolence message but he should go beyond this and issue orders to smoke out these herders and terrorists. You can imagine the pain of this people. People doing this are known and must be fished out. We want peace. I refuse to be provoked. How can we make progress with this type of killing? Putting blame and castigating me is not right”, Ortom said.

1000 Nasarawa communities benefit from NGO free medical outreach

By Christiana Ekpa

No fewer than 1000 persons were beneficiaries of a medical outreach by a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Teen Ambassadors Foundation (TAF), for residents of Luvu Madaki communities and environs in Karu local government area of Nasarawa State.

The medical intervention held at the TAF Office Luvu Madaki, and offered screening and treatment for malaria, typhoid, peptic ulcer, urinary tract infections, hypertension, diabetes, skin diseases. The intervention also provided free vaccination and treatment for Hepatitis among others.

Doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists and pharmacists were on ground to offer services free of charge to adults and children from the communities.

Director General of the Foundation, Mr Paul Adiwu, said the gesture was borne out of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the NGO.

Adiwu said the intervention, which was meant for all classes of people, targeted at least 1000 persons.

He said, “This is our first quarter medical outreach for the year. We were here last year. We only gave medication for hepatitis patients but the vaccination was not introduced then. So we introduced the vaccination and we felt it is only right we come here so they can benefit from the vaccination. Those those that do not have hepatitis but wish to be vaccinated are free to do so. We are here to treat them on different ailments and administer vaccinations for hepatitis.”

He said the gesture was also in the spirit of Easter and Ramadan.

Adiwu added that TAF was also into education and entrepreneurship development to deal with unemployment in the country, besides the medical outreaches.

The Medical Coordinator of TAF, Dr Samuel Munza, said the goal of the organization was to completely drive out hepatitis.

He said, “Our goal is to drive out hepatitis. We are actually vanguards towards that. We cannot do everything but we are doing our best. When we screen them, for those that are positive we have liver supplements we give to them and counsel them. For those that are negative we give them the vaccines. We give them the immunization and ask them to come for the follow up dosage we always make it available.”

He said the medical intervention covered everyone including children.

Various beneficiaries expressed gratitude to Teen Ambassadors Foundation for the gesture.

They said it would go a long way in improving the well-being of the people and called on other organizations to emulate the gesture.

A traditional ruler in the community, Chief Salasi Ali, said, “We thank God for TAF. We appreciate this gesture for the community. We thank the DG of TAF, Dr Paul Adiwu, because so far, he is only person doing such for the community. A lot of persons needed serious medical attention. They came with this medical outreach last year and the people have been