Today We Celebrate A Hero

Idoma............Land of Warriors and the Brave
          This is for a Man of the people.....A father, Brother, Boss, Mentor and a role Model.
leaders take their followers where they want to go but great leaders like him take people where they dnt necessarily want to be but ought to be.

He is the President of the Idoma International carnival formally Agila Carnival which started in 2013 with the aim of celebrating the Rich Cultural Heritage of the Idoma people

He is a Business Tycoon who has created Job opportunities for Idoma Sons and Daughters

You re a great Boss in and out of work, The most Inspiring, Kind, Generous, Amazing, Fair and Balanced.
Your Dedication and Determination Inspire us

Today the Idoma Nation joins the world to celebrate your Achievements and Greatness

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCE EDWIN OCHAI
    Wishing you the Fortitude to Accomplish Your Goals and Vision to inspire the Idoma Nation to achieve her Goals

Happy Birthday To An Icon

A man of honour , respect and impact is a man who takes the growth,  and development of other people as a priority.  He is selfless, he's a mentor, a friend and a father all in one. He knows and sees your weaknesses and flaws but yet smiles and tells you,  you can be more. Such a man is the true definition of a good man. Such a man is hard to find.  Such a man is Prince Edwin Ochai.  Words will fail us to convey how grateful and how lucky we are to be found not in the same generation with you, but to have the privilege of knowing and being mentored by you. You are indeed everything in can possibly ask for.  
On this very special occasion of your birthday,  may heavens continue to small on you and bless you beyond what you can ever imagine.  You have given us your today for the sake of our tomorrow and we are eternally indebted to you. This will be the lowest point you will ever find yourself .
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOSS!!!!!!

The Dark Origins of Valentine's Day

Valentine's day indicate a season of love and people have been urged to show affection and care for their neighbours.

 

 

Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate romance and love and kissy-face fealty. But the origins of this festival of candy and cupids are actually dark, bloody — and a bit muddled.

 

Though no one has pinpointed the exact origin of the holiday, one good place to start is ancient Rome, where men hit on women by, well, hitting them.

 

From February 13 to 15, the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia. The men sacrificed a goat and a dog, then whipped women with the hides of the animals they had just slain.

 

The Roman romantics “were drunk. They were naked,” says Noel Lenski, a historian at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Young women would actually line up for the men to hit them, Lenski says.

 

They believed this would make them fertile.

 

The brutal fete included a matchmaking lottery, in which young men drew the names of women from a jar. The couple would then be, um, coupled up for the duration of the festival — or longer, if the match was right.

 

The ancient Romans may also be responsible for the name of our modern day of love. Emperor Claudius II executed two men — both named Valentine — on February 14 of different years in the 3rd century A.D. Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day.

 

Later, Pope Gelasius I muddled things in the Fifth Century by combining St. Valentine’s Day with Lupercalia to expel the pagan rituals. But the festival was more of a theatrical interpretation of what it had once been.

 

Lenski adds, “It was a little more of a drunken revel, but the Christians put clothes back on it. That didn’t stop it from being a day of fertility and love.”

 

Around the same time, the Normans celebrated Galatin’s Day. Galatin meant “lover of women.” That was likely confused with St. Valentine’s Day at some point, in part because they sound alike.

 

As the years went on, the holiday grew sweeter. Chaucer and Shakespeare romanticized it in their work, and it gained popularity throughout Britain and the rest of Europe. Handmade paper cards became the tokens-du-jour in the Middle Ages.

 

 

Eventually, the tradition made its way to the New World. The industrial revolution ushered in factory-made cards in the 19th century.

 

And in 1913, Hallmark Cards of Kansas City, Missouri, began mass producing valentines. February has not been the same since.

 

Today, the holiday is big business: According to market research firm IBIS World, Valentine’s Day sales reached $17.6bn last year; this year’s sales are expected to total $18.6bn.

 

But that commercialization has spoiled the day for many. Helen Fisher, a sociologist at Rutgers University, says we have only ourselves to blame.

“This isn’t a command performance,” she says. “If people didn’t want to buy Hallmark cards, they would not be bought, and Hallmark would go out of business.”

 

And so the celebration of Valentine’s Day goes on, in varied ways. Many will break the bank buying jewelry and flowers for their beloveds.

 

Others will celebrate in a SAD (that’s Single Awareness Day) way, dining alone and bingeing on self-gifted chocolates.

 

A few may even be spending this day the same way the early Romans did. But let’s not go there.

(National Public Radio)

JAMB Reacts To 'Snake Swallowing N36 Million' Report

The leadership of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has failed to believe the odious story that a snake swallowed up public funds. 

 

The registrar, Ishaq Oloyede

 

 The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB has reacted to a report that went viral a few days ago that a snake swallowed N36 million belonging to the board.

 

In a statement by its spokesperson, Franklin Benjamin, the Board said it was a pure case of criminality and fraud by one of its Staff.

 

It was earlier reported by an online news platform that a mystery snake was said to have sneaked into the accounts office of the board in Markurdi, Benue state and swallowed N36 million cash belonging JAMB.

 

This development occurred when a team of auditors dispatched by JAMB to take inventory of sold and unsold scratch cards and recover any funds generated or embezzled during sales periods.

 

JAMB candidates usually purchase scratch cards to gain access to the Board’s website for either registration or for checking their admission status but that has been stopped by the registrar, Ishaq Oloyede. The report read;

 

“A sales clerk, Philomina Chieshe, told JAMB registrar and his team that she could not account for N36 million she made in previous years before the abolition of scratch cards. In the course of interrogation, Philomena denied the allegations that she stole the money but confessed that her housemaid connived with another JAMB staff, Joan Asen, to “spiritually” (through a snake) steal the money from the vault in the account office”.

 

Speaking on the fraud, Benjamin said;

 

“It is natural for the office to account for what they have after the sale of scratch cards has been stopped and we discovered that lots of money was missing in Markurdi and other offices.

There are procedures in the civil service so the whole thing is still under investigation. She was queried, she appeared before disciplinary committee, although she confessed that money was missing and a snake swallowed it. Unfortunately, she is calling one Joan’s name which did not appear in the investigation at all. Joan only recommended a house help for her.

Of course, the management did not believe the story. She is just trying to put an excuse forward. These are things the registrar is trying to unravel to put the board on the right footing. We had a case where one of the staff said he had an accident on his way and the scratch cards got burnt but only for us to discover that they were used because they all had serial numbers."

Fulani Herdsmen Attack Police In Benue, Burn Their Car, 2 Officers Missing (Photos)

The Nigeria Police Force in Benue suffered irreparable losses in an encounter with a Fulani militia leading to the destruction of an operational vehicle. 

 

The destroyed police van

 

According to a serving Nigerian police officer Daniel Sunny, Fulani herdsmen attacked them in Benue State and burnt their vehicle.

 

After the attack, two police officers were declared missing.

 

See photos below:

 

 

 

Love in the castle live in makurdi.

Its the season of love... Come and celebrate the love season  with that special  someone on Valentine's day 14th feb 2018.. With a lot of activities  to give you the tine of your life.. 

Featuring: lovers games,  poem competition,  karaoke,  amazing music performances, short drama and soo much more.

Venue: newcastle events center chief steven lawani street New G. R. A  makurdi

Time: Red Carpet 5pm main event 7pm.  P. S Lots of prizes to be won

Strange snake swallows N36 million cash in JAMB office

A mystery snake is said to have sneaked into the accounts office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital and made away with N36 million cash.

Before now, JAMB candidates purchased scratch cards from JAMB state offices and other designated centers, to gain access to the Board’s website for either registration or to check their admission status but the reforms introduced by JAMB registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, recommended an end to the use of scratch cards.

A team of auditors was dispatched to different state offices of JAMB to take inventory of the sold and unsold scratch cards and recover whatever money that might have either been generated or mismanaged during the period of the sale of scratch cards.

On their visit to Makurdi office of JAMB, a sales clerk, Philomina Chieshe, told JAMB registrar and his team that she could not account for N36 million she made in previous years before the abolition of scratch cards.

In the course of interrogation, Philomena confessed that it was her housemaid that connived with another JAMB staff, Joan Asen, to “spiritually” steal the money from the vault in the accounts office.

She said: “I was one of the four sales clerks attached to JAMB office in Makurdi. My responsibility was to sell scratch cards to candidates and not involved in handling the revenues. It was the responsibility of Joan Asen and my other senior colleagues. I only remit money when am done selling the cards.

“Few months ago, there was issue of fraud in the Makurdi office. Auditors were sent from Abuja to carefully flip the record books of the office, to perhaps, ascertain the current state of affairs.

“The state Coordinator, Obilo, was not around when the audit team came. But in the course of the audit, N36 million was discovered to have been missing from the account. An investigation was launched. In the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Joan Asen, who is account staff and a lady outside JAMB have connived to steal the money.”

Philomina in her confessional statement said that Joan Asen and her accomplices confessed that they have been stealing the money “spiritually” through a mysterious snake that always sneak into the office to swallow the money from the vault.

According to her “It was a mystery to me too. I have been saving the money in the bank, but I found it difficult to account for it. So I started saving it in a vault in the office. But each time I open the vault, I will find nothing. I became worried and surprised how the millions of Naira could be disappearing from the vault. I began to interrogate everybody in the house and office, and no one could agree on what might have happened to the money. I continued to press until my housemaid confessed. She said that the money disappeared “spiritually”. She said that a “mysterious snake” sneaked into the house and swallowed the money in the vault.”

Herdsmen kill three again in Benue

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that three people were killed while several others sustained injuries during an attack on Tsukwa village under Logo Local Government Area on Thursday night.

A spokesperson for the Command, ASP Moses Yamu, while confirming the incident, said, “We received a report of an attack on Tsukwa on Thursday around 7.30 pm, and our men stationed around the area quickly rushed to the village.



“At the time our men got to the village, it was discovered that the attackers shot at people and killed three who were on motorcycles, before escaping with one of the bikes.”

While also confirming the attack, Chairman of Logo LGA, Mr. Richard Nyajo, said that the herdsmen laid an ambush for the victims in a forest opposite a church and opened fire on sighting them.

He said, “The herdsmen had between 7pm-8pm on Thursday laid an ambush in Kukwa near the Redeemed Christian Church of God located along Anyiin-Ayilamo Road. They shot six people, killing three in the process, while three others who sustained severe injuries had been taken to the hospital for treatment.”

In a related development, panic has gripped residents of Adaka community, a suburb of Makurdi, the state capital, as people are beginning to flee their homes.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that suspected herdsmen had allegedly sent a letter warning residents of an impending attack in Gwer West Local Government Area.

As a result of the development, residents of Adaka have been vacating the community in droves for fear of being attacked.

Confirming the situation, Yamu said that policemen had been drafted to the area to douse the tension caused by the threat.

(Coiled from Punch)

Appreciation Letter From Idoma Carnival President

I want to express my profound gratitude to the whole of Idoma nation and indeed people from all walks of life for your various contributions in one way or the other in making the 2017 edition of Idoma International carnival a huge success. It was a collective and colaborative effort which has shown that the carnival which began in 2013 as a little idea has grown to become a big voice and a rallying point for the whole of Idoma nation especially in the area of cultural reneisanse, showcasing and exposing our cultural heritage to the world, youth empowerment,tourism,  economic recovery, and and indeed a spring board to the much needed peace and unity without which there can
be no meaningful development in a dear land.
I also want to use this rare privilege to encourage our sons and daughters at home and in  diaspora and indeed their friends to come home every December, not just to savour the moment but to join hands to move Idomaland forward.
Even though it is very difficult to mention names of individuals and organisations who made the 2017 Idoma International carnival memorable,  I am compelled to single out Idoma National Forum led by its president, Bar Amali Adoya Amali and all the members, the cultural troupes from all the nine Local Governments in Idomaland, the chairman of Otukpo Local Government who doubles as the ALGON Chairman in Zone C of Benue State, members of the board of trustees,  Hero lager beer who were our major and number one sponsor and others too numerous to mention for want of time and space.
The journey to more memorable and bigger carnival in 2018 has begun and we invite all well meaning sons, daughters, friends of Idomaland,  and organisations to join the train as we are open to new ideas and innovations on how to move our land to the next level of development.
What we have started is not just an event or show but a movement that will translate into  tangible benefits .
Once again , on behalf of my team from Port Harcourt, Abuja, Otukpo, Lagos and Makurdi, I say THANK YOU.

Dr Edwin Ochai
President/Chairman Board of Trustees
Idoma International Carnival

N10m bribe allegation against Police X-Squad: Benue youths shut Makurdi-Gboko Road, protest harassment of BIRS boss

MAKURDI—Over 2,000 youths, yesterday, took over Makurdi-Gboko Road protesting the alleged demand of N10 million bribe from, and manhandling of the Chairman of Benue Internal Revenue Services, BIRS, Mrs. Mimi Adzape-Orubibi, by a Police team.

The angry youths chanted war songs and created hours of traffic gridlock on the road, bearing placards some of which read “Scrap X-Squad,” “We are tired of Police harassment” and “We demand the sack of the head of the X-Squad.”

It took the personal intervention of the BIRS Chairman and the Benue State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, to calm and disperse the irate youths, who gathered on the platform of Coalition of the Harmonised Civil Society Organisation in Nigerian.

Mrs. Adzape-Orubibi appealed to the youths to desist from any action that can aggravate the already tensed situation in the state as a result of herdsmen incursions.

According to her, “the Police is handling the matter and I know that justice will be done, given the correspondence we have had with the Police.”

We’re investigating—Police Commissioner

Reacting, the Police Commissioner said the Inspector General of Police never directed any personnel to collect money from government establishments.

Owoseni said: “I can assure you that those involved in the said matter have already been moved to Abuja for questioning.”

In his remark, leader of the youths and President General of Tiv Youths Organisation, Mr. Timothy Hembaor, said: “We are here to cry, shout, wail, grumble show solidarity and, if need be, die until Mr. President directs an investigation into the allegation of assault on the Chairman of BIRS and the total takeover of revenue collection by the Police X-Squad in the state.”

Coiled from vanguard 

Wike visits Ortom, approves N200m for victims of Benue massacre [PHOTOS]

Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike ,has released N200million to assist the Benue State Government to provide relief materials for victims of the new year massacre in Benue.

Wike led a delegation to condole with the Government and people of Benue State, Thursday.

Governor Wike and Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom led other leaders to offer prayers at the graveside of the 73 Benue people murdered in cold blood by Fulani herdsmen.

 

Coiled from Daily Post NG

Benue government loses confidence in FG over killer herdsmen

 

Senator David Mark (left); Tor Tiv James Ayatse; Benue State Deputy Governor Benson Abounu; President Muhammadu Buhari; Governor Samuel Ortom and other delegation from the state after a closed-door meeting at the State House, Abuja… Recently. PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

• Says no going back on anti-open grazing law
• Accuses IGP of bias, abandoning state
• 15 die in fresh Adamawa cattlemen attack
• PDP berates Buhari over carnage

The Benue State government yesterday declared it had lost confidence in the ability of the country’s security agencies to bring to justice herdsmen accused of killings in the state.

It also warned the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and other Fulani socio-cultural organisations to stop calls for a repeal of the anti-open grazing law, vowing the legislation would remain.

“The Benue State government will not repeal or suspend this law for any reason. And we appeal to the police and other security agencies to enforce the law, which is their constitutional responsibility. However, if they continue to fail, with the help of God, we shall overcome this dark episode in our history,” it said.

Addressing a world press conference in Makurdi, the state capital, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Lawrence Onoja, stated: “We are simply asking the police and other security agencies in the country to put an end to these killings, arrest the people behind them and prosecute them, to regain the people’s confidence.”

He condemned the failure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to relocate to the state, as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that the police chief was sighted for just a day, following which he left immediately.

Onoja said the IGPs initial description of the “pre-planned Benue killings by Fulani herdsmen on January 1 and 2, 2018, as mere communal clash” showed that Idris “does not accord any urgency or seriousness to arresting the perpetrators of the mass murder.”

He regretted that the body language of the police boss might have “emboldened the herdsmen militia to further lay false claim of ownership to the Benue Valley through a so-called right of conquest.”

The IGP’s statement, he said, “is highly provocative, insensitive and completely violates the basic principle of natural justice with his open bias against the innocent people of Benue State.”

According to the spokesman, Idris has “demonstrated his incompetence as a police chief and we have lost confidence and trust in him, since he has clearly shown that he either lacks the capacity to apprehend these armed Fulani militia or by his inaction and utterances portrayed himself as complicit in the grand plot to dispossess our people of their ancestral land by violent means.”

On claims by the police that the state operates an armed militia, the commissioner said: “It is not true. It is the prerogative of the police to go after such group and arrest them, rather than continue with falsehood. On assumption of office, this government declared an amnesty and hundred of youths surrendered illegal arms. These (arms) were publicly destroyed in full public glare and in accordance with specifications of the United Nations, which sent experts to carry out the exercise under the supervision of the Presidential Committee on Small Arms.”

“If the IGP is really sincere with disarming militias, the starting point should be with the Fulani herdsmen, rated the fourth most deadly on the Global Terrorism Index,” he added.

Meanwhile, a deadly clash between herdsmen and villagers in Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State killed about 15 persons at the weekend.

The Police Spokesman in the state, Othman Abubakar, however, put the number at six. “The information I got is that the herdsmen lost three people and the farmers also lost three during the clash between the two groups,” he said.

Trouble began when cattle allegedly overran a pond, said to be the only source of water for a community. A woman who protested against the development was attacked, sustained machete wounds, but managed to flee. The community members mobilised and confronted the herdsmen, allegedly killing four. The herdsmen, in turn, staged a reprisal and razed Fimba, Shiure and Tinde villages, killing about a dozen people.

A resident of Tinde and a university lecturer, Dr. Amos Yusuf, said: “I was told by some of my relations that escaped from the village that 15 people were killed during the invasion of three villages, including mine, by some Fulani herdsmen. They burnt the three villages and killed 15 people.”

The poor management of the farmers/herdsmen crisis has continued to draw attacks from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Yesterday the party criticised government’s handling of the killings by Fulani herdsmen.

“We believe that the Federal Government’s decision to set up a committee to address the issues of herdsmen killings is a pretentious approach to a matter that requires firm action and leadership by the president, in line with his oath of office to protect all Nigerians, irrespective of creed, tribe and political affiliation,” the party said after a meeting of its National Working Committee and PDP governors in Asaba, Delta State.

In the joint statement by the National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus and the Chairman Governors’ Forum Ayodele Fayose, the party urged Buhari to address the nation on how he plans to end the carnage.

(Coild from the Guardian)