By Felix Umande from Makurdi

More than 13,000 refugees from Cameroon are currently residing in Benue State, placing additional pressure on already overstretched host communities, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management and Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, BSEMA, Dr. James Iorpuu, has disclosed.

Speaking on Thursday during the distribution of food and other essential items to Internally Displaced Persons across 15 camps and host communities at the BSEMA headquarters in Makurdi, Iorpuu said the influx has adversely affected economic activities in receiving areas and called for immediate intervention from the Federal Government.

“The state is already grappling with its own insurgency and therefore needs Federal Government support,” he stated.

According to Iorpuu, the presence of thousands of Cameroonian refugees has intensified competition for limited resources, farmland, and market access in several border communities. He noted that while Benue continues to host displaced populations from internal conflicts, the added burden of cross-border displacement requires coordinated federal assistance to prevent further strain on local economies and social infrastructure.

He commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for sustained funding and unwavering support to BSEMA, saying the governor’s commitment has strengthened the state’s emergency response framework and enabled the agency to reach vulnerable populations more effectively.

“The consistent support of the Benue State Government remains a clear demonstration of leadership, compassion, and dedication to the welfare of displaced persons and affected communities,” Iorpuu said.

The BSEMA boss also revealed that the Benue State Government is collaborating with the International Organization for Migration and the National Emergency Management Agency to strengthen disaster risk reduction at the community level.

The partnership, he explained, will enhance local emergency management structures and provide critical training for grassroots volunteers, improving preparedness, resilience, and community-based response mechanisms during emergencies.

“Benue SEMA is pleased with the ongoing collaboration with IOM and NEMA to strengthen communities in Benue State on Disaster Risk Reduction,” he said.

Reaffirming the agency’s mandate, Iorpuu pledged that BSEMA would continue to discharge its duties with integrity, honesty, transparency, and accountability.

“We remain determined to serve humanity with compassion and dedication, ensuring that every support entrusted to us reaches the intended beneficiaries,” he assured.

He also lauded the resilience of displaced families in camps and host communities, noting that their determination to remain hopeful despite daily hardship continues to motivate humanitarian workers and stakeholders.

By Aliyu Musa

There are indications that veterans across the six geopolitical zones are mobilizing for a coordinated nationwide protest to push for the implementation of the reported presidential approval for a retired officer to assume leadership of the Military Pensions Board (MPB).

A veteran, who disclosed this to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, argued that the continued stay in office of the current Chairman, AVM Mikail Abdulraheem, despite reports that a court of competent jurisdiction had ordered him to forfeit the sum of ₦400 million, raises serious concerns.

It will be recalled that a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, had on March 17, this year, ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of N400 million allegedly linked to AVM Mikail Abdulraheem, the chairman of the Military Pensions Board, to the Federal Government.

The veteran queried: “What further action or indictment are the authorities waiting for?” Is the decision of a competent court not part of the legal and institutional framework of government?”

He said this development underscores a troubling disconnect between judicial pronouncements and administrative action, insisting that the rule of law must be upheld consistently, particularly in institutions responsible for managing public funds.

According to him, “Allowing such unresolved issues to linger will undermine confidence in the system and send the wrong signal about accountability standards.

Speaking further, the veteran said, “These concerns are further compounded by the delay in implementing the President’s approval for a veteran, AVM Sadeeq Adamu (rtd), to take over the chairmanship. The absence of a clear timeline or official explanation has fueled speculation and deepened mistrust among retirees who depend on the board for their livelihood.

“In addition to the tension are allegations that some individuals within veterans’ leadership circles were approached with financial inducements to downplay the significance of the court ruling. While these claims remain contentious, they have been strongly rejected by many veterans”.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had approved the appointment of Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Idris Adamu (retd.) as the Chairman of the Military Pensions Board, effective December 1, 2025.

According to a retired colonel who wishes to remain anonymous, he confirmed this development to this medium, saying, “he was offered the sum of One Million Naira to remain quiet, but he rejected it, insisting that integrity must remain the cornerstone of any institution handling pension funds.”

Equally criticized is the involvement of external advocacy groups with no direct link to the veteran’s community, who have emerged to publicly defend the current leadership. Veterans view this as a distraction from the real issues affecting pensioners, including discrepancies in entitlements and the ongoing struggles of medically discharged personnel.

Vet Cyril Oke, a veteran, while speaking to this medium, maintains that their demand is not about targeting individuals but about restoring credibility to the system.

He argued that “A veteran-led MPB, operating independently and guided by strong corporate governance principles, would be better positioned to address longstanding challenges and rebuild trust”.

Also, Vet Michael Frima and Vet Danjuma Mamman shared the same opinion that any planned protest will be peaceful and within the bounds of the law. He said their objective “Is to draw attention to the urgent need for reform and to ensure that the president’s directive is implemented without further delay.

“This is about the integrity of our institutions and the welfare of those who have served the nation. When a court has spoken, and when an approval has been granted, there must be clarity and action. Anything less raises questions that cannot be ignored,” Vet Danjuma Mamman said.

_House acts on Governor Alia’s letter, says suspension necessary to allow unimpeded investigation.

By Felix Umade, Makurdi

The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended the Auditor General for Local Government, Mr. Abraham Gberidyer, over allegations of financial misappropriation and fraud involving ₦4.6 billion.

The resolution was passed unanimously during a plenary session on Tuesday, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga, MNIQS, RQS.

The suspension followed a formal letter from Governor Hyacinth Alia, transmitted to the House through the Office of the Head of Service. In the letter, the governor outlined “serious financial impropriety” levelled against Gberidyer and informed the legislature that the Auditor General is currently under investigation for corruption.

According to the correspondence, Gberidyer cannot remain in office while the probe is ongoing, in line with constitutional provisions relating to the removal of a corrupt public officer. The governor urged the House to act to ensure the integrity of the process and to prevent interference with the investigation.

Lawmakers debated the matter briefly before resolving that suspending the Auditor General was the most appropriate step to uphold transparency and accountability in the management of local government finances.

“The House unanimously suspends the Auditor General from office to pave the way for a proper investigation,” the Speaker announced after the voice vote.

The office of the Auditor General for Local Government is constitutionally mandated to audit and report on the financial activities of all 23 local government councils in the state. The position is considered critical to ensuring fiscal discipline and preventing misuse of public funds at the grassroots level.

The ₦4.6 billion in question is said to relate to irregularities flagged in the administration and disbursement of local government allocations. While details of the specific transactions have not been made public, the scale of the alleged fraud has raised concern among lawmakers and civil society groups, particularly given the financial strain on many LGAs in the state.

Political observers say the move also signals a renewed push by the legislature to assert its oversight role. By acting swiftly on the governor’s request, the House has avoided what could have been a protracted standoff between the executive and the audit office.

The Assembly did not announce an interim replacement for the Auditor General, but legislative sources indicate that a senior official within the office is expected to be appointed in an acting capacity pending the outcome of the investigation.

With Gberidyer now out of office, anti-corruption and investigative agencies are expected to intensify their probe. The House has not specified a timeline for the investigation but said it would monitor developments closely to ensure due process is followed.