The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has lauded a former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), for having the courage to say the truth about the killings by herdsmen across the country.

Wike said though it was not in his habit to fast, he would embark on a fast and prayer session for Danjuma because, according to him, having spoken the truth, Danjuma’s life might be in danger

Wike said he was afraid that the country had become completely directionless under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

The governor said this on Monday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, while swearing in four judges of the state high court and the Customary Court of Appeal.

He said it was regrettable that the politicisation of governance process had entrenched despair across the country.

Wike accused security agencies of working for the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state to deliberately compromise the security in Rivers State.

He said, “Nigeria has got to a point that we don’t know where we are heading.  I don’t fast, but I will fast and pray to God to keep General Danjuma.  General Theophilus Danjuma has said the truth.  It is happening daily in Rivers State.

“We are setting up our Neighbourhood Safety Corps, but they are generating crisis. We only replicated what is in existence in Lagos State, but nobody queries that of Lagos State. Only recently, Nasarawa State launched her outfit, without being challenged.

“The recent deliberate crisis and threat of violence by the APC on the setting up of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps underscores the devilish schemes to promote insecurity in Rivers State.”

He berated the APC Federal Government for abandoning the solemn duty of protection of lives and property in pursuit of 2019 re-election.

On the swearing-in of the judges, the governor charged them to uphold the rule of law and be fearless in their dispensation of justice.

He urged the judges not to allow themselves to be intimidated by agents of the political class, reminding them that they would be called to account by God.

Wike told the judges that they now had the opportunity to make the state a better place by enthroning justice.

The judges sworn in by the Rivers State Governor were Justice Godwin Ollor, Justice Uche K-Chuku of the Rivers State High Court, Justice Legor Senewo and Justice Frank Onyiri of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal.

Five die in fresh Fulani crisis in Benue

Five people have been killed in fresh attacks by herdsmen in different locations of Benue State.

Four persons were reportedly killed by herdsmen at the Guma and Agatu local government areas of the state on Sunday, while one herdsman was reported killed at Lower Benue, a suburb of Makurdi, on Saturday.

The incident in the Agatu LGA was said to have happened at Olegobiudu where  two persons were said to have been  killed with one of the victims  said to have been beheaded.

A native of the community in Agatu said that the incident happened on Sunday when about seven boys in the area went to have a bath in the community stream.

The native added that the little children who were aged between 10 and 15 years were ambushed by the herders who shot at  them and killed two of them.

“The children, whose ages were between 10 and 15 years, had as usual gone to the stream in the community when they were attacked by herdsmen.

“Some of the children rushed home to tell the people of the invasion by the herdsmen and by the time we got to the stream, the herdsmen had fled but we met the lifeless bodies of the kids. The head of one of them was cut off.”

The incident in Guma was said to have occurred at Tse Samaka when herdsmen attacked and killed two of those who braced the odd to visit their homes.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Fatai Owoseni, confirmed the killings during a meeting he had with the leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.

Owoseni said, “We had an incident just yesterday (Sunday);  two persons were killed in Agatu but we have responded swiftly to douse tension, we are working closely with other security agencies to ensure the crisis  does not escalate.

“Also, some bandits have killed two persons in the Guma area on Sunday which makes us to reinforce in the area.

“Also, we have this report at Lower Benue here where a herdsman was killed.