By Felix Umande

The Benue State House of Assembly has passed a bill to be signed into law by the Governor providing for free treatment of snakebites in government hospitals across the state.

The bill scaled third reading during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga, on Thursday.

Its passage followed a public hearing held on March 23, 2026, where stakeholders in the health sector highlighted its benefits to the people.

Chairman, House Committee on Health and Human Services, Hon. Dr. Mathew Damkor (Tiev State Constituency), who led debate on the bill, said snakebites remain a serious but often neglected public health challenge, particularly among farmers and rural dwellers.

He said the law would eliminate financial barriers to treatment and establish a structured response system for victims.

Speaker Emberga described the law as timely and important, noting that snakebite incidents cause serious challenges in rural communities, especially among farmers.

Also at plenary, the House passed into law the Benue State Honours Bill, which seeks to recognise excellence, integrity and service to the state while promoting patriotism, diligence and innovation.

The bill, which is designed to encourage contributions to socio-economic development and establish a transparent, merit-based honours system, was considered clause by clause before passage. Members said it would honour deserving sons and daughters who have contributed immensely to the development of the state.

In another development, the House received the report of the House Committee on Rural Development and Cooperative on its familiarisation visit to the Ministry of Cooperative and Rural Development, presented by Dr. Abraham Jabi (Buruku State Constituency).

Following the report, the Speaker directed the committee to liaise with the Accountant-General of the state to ascertain why funds have not been released to the ministry.

Meanwhile, the Tuberculosis Elimination, Human Rights Protection and Anti-Discrimination Bill, sponsored by Hon. Simon Gabo (Mata State Constituency), was read for the first time.

By Vincent Tyoduugh

The fears spread over the abduction of Dr Jonah Ogbaji have been allayed as the Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, has stated that the Chief Medical Director of Multicare Hospital, Makurdi, was arrested by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad attached to the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja.

The PPRO was reacting to the alleged abduction of the medical doctor, which had gone viral on social media across the state.

The police spokesman said in a statement issued Thursday that the medical doctor was arrested by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad attached to the Force Intelligence Department, Abuja, in connection with an undisclosed investigation.

Social media platforms in the state had been awash with reports of the suspected abduction of the medical doctor around 9pm on Wednesday while he was attending to patients at his hospital along Ankpa Road, Makurdi.

Aondongu, in the statement, described the alleged abduction claim as “false”.

According to him:
“The Command has received enquiries regarding reports of the alleged abduction of a medical doctor and owner of a hospital in Makurdi.

“Upon verification, the report is false. The doctor was not abducted. He was arrested yesterday at his hospital by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) attached to the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja, in connection with an ongoing investigation.”

Aondongu said the specific circumstances surrounding the investigation were yet to be known to the Command.

The command, however, advised the people of the state to disregard reports of the medical doctor’s alleged abduction or kidnapping.

The arrested medical doctor was a two-term ex-officio member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), North Central.

By Nick Ibe

A Nigerian-Mexican drug cartel operating a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Eziama community in Obeagu, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State has been dismantled by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which struck a decisive blow against another transnational organised crime.

According to a press release on Thursday , 24th September, 2026, signed by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, two kingpins: 45-year-old Chukwu Obumneme Christopher, alias Brown, and 60-year-old Chukwu Georginus Monday, alias George, were arrested in connection with the operation of the meth lab in partnership with a notorious Mexican drug cartel member, Rodriguez Villanueva, based in Mexico City, Mexico.

The statement said the arrest followed “several months of intelligence and surveillance on the syndicate.”

The suspects have already been arraigned according to NDLEA: “They were arraigned before Hon. Justice Mabel Taiye Segun-Bello of the Federal High Court, Enugu Judicial Division, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, the organisation, management and financing of a Drug Trafficking Organization, and unlawful possession of precursor chemicals used in methamphetamine production, contrary to the NDLEA Act. After their plea, Justice Segun-Bello has now scheduled their trial for 21st October 2026, following an application by the Agency for an accelerated hearing.”

Also named in the charge, and currently at large, are Uchenna, alias Uche; Celestine Ikemefuna Iwuchukwu; and Rodriguez Villanueva, who is a notorious member of a Mexican drug cartel.

Investigations by a Special Operations Unit (SOU) of NDLEA revealed a sophisticated, transnational operation by the Nigerian-Mexican cartel. Surveillance activities by NDLEA between 1st and 4th December, 2025, tracked Brown’s movements between Lagos, Enugu and Anambra States, ultimately leading operatives to a compound in Obeagu where a clandestine laboratory capable of producing methamphetamine in commercial quantities was uncovered. The lab, fitted with improvised reactors and distillation apparatus, mirrored similar facilities recently dismantled in Ogun, Oyo and Ebonyi.

A search of the premises led to the recovery of vast quantities of precursor chemicals, including 690 litres of methylamine, 1,000 litres of isopropyl alcohol, 300 litres of hydrochloric acid, 290 litres each of toluene and acetone, 400 litres of liquid sodium hydroxide, 125 kilograms of N-phenylacetamide, 414 kilograms of lead acetate, and 769.6 kilograms of tartaric acid, among other controlled substances, a haul consistent with a high-potency, P2P-based methamphetamine manufacturing operation.

A related search of George’s family residence yielded eight large fuel tanks, four commercial gas burners, four dehydrators, and 11 kilograms of ephedrine, further underscoring the scale of the cartel’s operations.

Reacting to the development, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), reaffirmed the Agency’s unwavering resolve to track down every fleeing suspect connected to the cartel, and ensure that they all face the full weight of the law.

He commended all NDLEA officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and doggedness in cracking yet another international drug syndicate. He described the Enugu lab bust as further proof that Nigeria will not be allowed to become a haven for transnational drug cartels, warning that the Agency’s intelligence-driven operations and international partnerships would continue to close every loophole exploited by drug barons, whether local or foreign.

He reiterated his charge to all NDLEA personnel to sustain the momentum of relentless enforcement until the nation is rid of the scourge of illicit drug production and trafficking.