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Naija NewsToday, Katsina-Ala Street, Abuja (2026)

27/08/2026

ALIA GENERATION WOMEN DEMAND SKILLS, EMPOWERMENT AS THEY HONOUR BENUE SEMA BOSS

By Orseer Mnzughulga

The Alia Generation Women Worldwide have called for increased investment in women's economic empowerment, skills acquisition and grassroots mobilisation in Benue State, as they honoured the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sir-James Aondoakaa Iorpuu, PhD.

The women made the call on Tuesday at a dual event tagged "Iorpuu Alia Ga," and the unveiling of Alia/Ode 2027, organised to celebrate Iorpuu for his leadership, humanitarian interventions and pioneering role in the grassroots movement that supported the emergence of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia as the governor of Benue State.

The event, held at the Fr. Alia Conference Hall, SEMA Headquarters, Makurdi, was led by the Convener of the Alia Generation Women Worldwide and Benue State Women Leader, Office of the Governor on Special Groups Mobilisation, Hon. Mrs. Jane Atsegha.

In her address, Atsegha said the gathering was not only an occasion to celebrate Iorpuu but also an opportunity to draw attention to the needs of women across Benue State and seek stronger institutional support for their welfare and economic independence.

She expressed appreciation to the Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Office of the First Lady, Her Excellency Scholastica Ben-Sor, for what she described as her consistent compassion, encouragement and responsiveness to the needs of women and vulnerable persons.

According to Atsegha, Ben-Sor had demonstrated through her interventions that leadership should be about service, compassion and reaching people at the grassroots.

She appealed to Ben-Sor to provide 600 customised APC wrappers, comprising 200 for each of the three senatorial districts, as well as 3,000 sanitary pads, with 1,000 earmarked for each senatorial district.

However, Atsegha said the women's most important need went beyond immediate material assistance, stressing the importance of sustainable economic empowerment.

She appealed for the expansion of skills-acquisition programmes and provision of tools and other forms of support that could enable women to establish sustainable livelihoods.

"Our women are hardworking and willing to learn, but many require the necessary skills, tools and support to become economically self-reliant," she said.

Atsegha maintained that empowering women would have a multiplier effect on families and communities, arguing that a woman equipped with a sustainable skill would be able to support herself, her family and contribute to the development of her community.

She therefore described women’s empowerment as an investment in the future of Benue State. The Alia Generation Women leader also appealed to Iorpuu to continue supporting the group, particularly with palliatives whenever the need arose.

She described women as a critical force in politics, noting that they operate at the grassroots, mobilise communities, communicate directly with families and help sustain political movements.

Atsegha recalled Iorpuu’s role in the early days of the Divine Mandate movement, saying the women had not forgotten his contribution to the mobilisation that eventually grew into a wider network of support groups.

“Sir James, we remember where this journey began,” she said, recalling that Iorpuu pioneered and coordinated mobilisation under Divine Mandate before the movement expanded.

She appealed to him to remain committed to the women, stressing that his experience, leadership and grassroots mobilisation capacity remained valuable to the movement.

Atsegha also appealed for a bus to facilitate the activities of the Alia Generation Women across the state, saying improved mobility would strengthen their ability to reach communities and coordinate their programmes.

Responding to the women, Iorpuu thanked them for the honour and commended their dedication to grassroots mobilisation and support for Governor Alia’s administration.

He recalled Governor Alia’s decision to enter partisan politics to restore what he described as the lost glory of Benue State, maintaining that the Governor had remained faithful to his promises three years into his administration.

Iorpuu acknowledged the sacrifices and steadfastness of the Alia Generation Women, describing their efforts as critical to the successes recorded by the administration and urged them to remain united and intensify mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

He supported the group with 500 bags of rice and a cash donation.

Also speaking, Her Excellency Mrs. Scholastica Ben-Sor assured the women of her continued support, saying women across Benue remained firmly behind Governor Alia.

She disclosed that women were working towards delivering two million votes for the Governor in 2027. Ben-Sor also donated sanitary pads to the women and promised to work with Iorpuu towards securing a coaster bus to support their mobilisation across the state’s 23 local government areas.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Support Groups, Hon. Ngutswen Francis MP, described Divine Mandate Worldwide as the mother movement from which more than 2,000 support groups emerged in Benue.

He commended Iorpuu for his consistent support for support groups and urged stakeholders to strengthen their backing for the Alia administration.

The occasion attracted government functionaries, members of the Divine Mandate Worldwide Board of Trustees, support groups and other stakeholders.

It also featured prayers, goodwill messages, presentations and the decoration of Iorpuu in Tiv, Idoma and Igede traditional attires.

Photo credit: Wiz Wizzy Wisdom & Orseer Mnzughulga.

20/08/2026

UKUM ATTACK: TYOZUA CARES ANSWERED THE CALL, REACHES 29 INJURED VICTIMS WITH N580,000 RELIEF PACKAGE, CALLS FOR STRONGER SECURITY.

Thursday, August 20 2026

When gunmen invaded communities in Mbazun Ward of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State in the early hours of Sunday, August 16, 2026, residents who had gone to bed expecting another peaceful night were suddenly confronted with gunfire, fear and uncertainty.

The attack affected several communities, including Mbaterem, Ayaba, Ikpur, Yina, Aboajio and Ukpen, with reports indicating that the assailants moved through the communities and opened fire on residents. Several people were killed while others sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to different health facilities for treatment.

The attack forced many residents to flee into the surrounding bushes for safety, while security personnel moved into the affected areas to restore calm and evacuate victims.

It was in the immediate aftermath of the attack, as victims battled injuries and families struggled to come to terms with the tragedy, that the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AJITEC Solutions Nig. Ltd., Engr. Tyozua Terdoo Titus, through the Tyozua Cares Foundation, answered the call for humanitarian support.

The foundation reached out to injured victims receiving treatment in different health facilities across the affected area, providing financial assistance to help cushion the immediate burden of medical treatment and other needs arising from the attack.

A total of 29 injured victims received N20,000 each, bringing the value of the relief package to N580,000.

Representing Engr. Tyozua, a delegation led by Hon. Kpeibee Aondohemba, alongside Hon. Utime, Hon. Tersugh Tyoshom and Comrade Asule T. Moses, visited victims undergoing treatment in various healthcare facilities including Tyav Medical Clinic, Erdoo Clinic and Kefas Clinic in Kyado, Yende Clinic in Atogbenda, and St. Anthony Hospital in Zaki-Biam.

The delegation's visit went beyond the presentation of financial assistance.

They sat with the victims, listened to their experiences and conveyed words of encouragement, compassion and solidarity from Engr. Tyozua, assuring the injured that they were not forgotten in the aftermath of the violence.

Among the beneficiaries were Usman Msughaondo, Mgilinga Shaakaa, Mbateren Shaakaa, Orhumbega Sev, Terna Tyoagar, Mtomga Usaaya, Hamenza Aboajio, James Utser, Aondoakaa Agee, Terhile Agu, Helen Chiaior, Tahav Elizabeth, Aondokimbir Tyover, Hange Uhemba, Iorkumbur Mbatsav, Isaiah Iorwa, Avalumun Moave, Boniface V***a and Terlumun Torkya, among several others. For the victims and their families, the intervention came at a particularly difficult moment.

Beyond the physical injuries sustained during the attack, many were confronting medical bills, emotional trauma, displacement and uncertainty about what the future held. For families who lost loved ones, the pain was even deeper.

The foundation also conveyed the condolences of Engr. Tyozua to families who lost relatives in the attack, assuring them of his solidarity, prayers and support during their period of grief.

The gesture, according to the foundation, reflects the belief that humanitarian intervention should not wait until the headlines have disappeared. Victims of violence require support at the point when the consequences are most immediate and painful.

The intervention also provided an opportunity for the delegation to hear directly from victims about the circumstances surrounding the attack and the challenges confronting residents of the affected communities.

Their stories painted a picture of communities whose residents are increasingly concerned about their safety while carrying out everyday activities, particularly farming, travelling and conducting businesses.

For many families in rural Ukum, security is inseparable from livelihood. When communities come under attack, farmers may be unable to access their farms, businesses are disrupted, children and vulnerable persons are exposed to danger, and families are forced to make difficult decisions about whether to remain in their ancestral communities or seek safety elsewhere.

It was against this background that Engr. Tyozua used the occasion to call for stronger, sustained and proactive security measures in Mbateren and other vulnerable communities across Ukum Local Government Area.

He commended the Benue State Government and security agencies for their efforts in responding to the attack but stressed that more needed to be done to prevent further violence.

According to him, the people of Ukum deserve to live in an environment where they can cultivate their farms, travel freely, conduct legitimate businesses and raise their families without constantly looking over their shoulders.

For the Tyozua Cares Foundation, however, humanitarian assistance is only one part of the response.

The delegation emphasised the importance of preventing a recurrence of the violence by strengthening security presence, improving intelligence gathering and ensuring that vulnerable communities receive adequate protection.

The foundation also commended traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders working to promote peace and restore confidence among residents of the affected communities.

Their role, it noted, remains crucial in encouraging residents to cooperate with security agencies and in promoting peaceful coexistence at the grassroots.

While the N580,000 intervention cannot undo the events of August 16 or replace the lives lost, it has provided immediate assistance to 29 people whose lives were suddenly disrupted by violence.

For those injured, the support represents more than financial relief. It is also a reminder that their pain has not gone unnoticed.

And for families mourning their loved ones, the message from the Tyozua Cares Foundation is one of solidarity that they are not alone in their grief.

As Mbateren and the surrounding communities continue to recover from the attack, the immediate challenge remains ensuring that residents can return to their homes and farms without fear.

Ultimately, the people of Ukum need more than emergency intervention after every attack. They need a sustained security architecture capable of protecting lives, securing farmlands, safeguarding livelihoods and restoring confidence in the communities.

That is why the Tyozua Cares intervention carries a message that goes beyond the N580,000 relief package! When tragedy strikes, victims need compassion, but communities also need protection and when Mbateren was attacked, Tyozua Cares answered the call.

15/08/2026

Alia Government, UNICEF Intensify Drive to Protect Benue Children

The Benue State Government has stepped up efforts to strengthen child protection mechanisms across the state through deeper collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The initiative, being coordinated by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare under the leadership of Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, is aimed at ensuring that children are protected from violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect and other threats to their wellbeing.

The partnership is also designed to improve the capacity of government institutions and community structures to identify vulnerable children, report cases of abuse, facilitate referrals and provide timely social welfare and protection services.

The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, under the supervision of Commissioner Mrs Theresa Odachi Ikwue, has continued to work with UNICEF, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and communities to strengthen child protection systems and improve responses to cases involving vulnerable children.

UNICEF has supported the state through capacity building, case management, psychosocial support and community-based child protection interventions, particularly in communities affected by conflict, displacement and insecurity.

The interventions have become increasingly important as displacement and other humanitarian challenges continue to expose children and families to heightened risks, including abuse, exploitation, neglect and other forms of violence.

Commissioner Ikwue has stressed the importance of coordinated and child-centred interventions, urging stakeholders to ensure that cases involving children are handled promptly and through established protection and referral channels.

She also emphasised the need to strengthen the capacity of social workers, frontline personnel, child protection volunteers and community actors to identify protection risks early and respond appropriately.

A major plank of the government’s strategy is community participation, with stakeholders recognising that effective child protection cannot be achieved by government alone.

Parents, caregivers, teachers, traditional and religious leaders, health workers, security agencies, community leaders and civil society organisations are therefore being encouraged to play active roles in preventing abuse and creating safer environments for children.

Through UNICEF-supported programmes, community-based actors have been trained and mobilised to strengthen case management, psychosocial support and referral systems for children requiring protection and assistance.

The collaboration also supports broader efforts to strengthen government institutions, social welfare and justice services, while ensuring that children in vulnerable and humanitarian situations can access appropriate preventive and responsive services.

For the Alia administration, the partnership represents a strategic investment in the future of Benue, as a functional child protection system is critical to ensuring that children can grow and develop without fear of violence, exploitation or neglect.

The state government is expected to sustain and deepen collaboration with UNICEF and other stakeholders by expanding child protection structures, strengthening referral pathways, improving frontline capacity and increasing community ownership of child protection initiatives.

The overarching objective is to ensure that every child in Benue, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to a safe, supportive and protective environment in which to grow, learn and fulfil their potential.

15/08/2026

ALIA'S WOMEN EMPOWERMENT DRIVE GATHERS MOMENTUM AS NFWP-SU ENTERS OKPOKWU

Friday, August 14, 2026

The administration of Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has intensified its drive to economically empower women as the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) takes its intervention to communities across Okpokwu Local Government Area.

The community entry exercise, which is designed to mobilise women and other stakeholders ahead of the implementation of the programme, has received strong support from traditional institutions, the local government council and residents.

Speaking at Okpoga Central, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Theresa Ikwue, said Governor Alia’s administration remained committed to creating opportunities that would enable women to become economically independent and contribute more effectively to the development of their families and communities.

Ikwue said the Governor’s prompt release of counterpart funding for the NFWP-SU demonstrated the seriousness attached to women’s empowerment by the state government.

She urged women across Okpokwu to take advantage of the programme by actively participating in the formation of Women Affinity Groups (WAGs), while calling on men, traditional rulers and community leaders to support the initiative.

According to the Commissioner, the NFWP-SU is being piloted in three local government areas of Benue—Vandeikya, Gwer East and Okpokwu—with Vandeikya already recording encouraging progress through the formation of over 400 Women Affinity Groups and the commencement of savings.

The NFWP-SU, an initiative of the Federal Government implemented in collaboration with the Federal and State Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, seeks to strengthen women’s livelihoods, expand economic opportunities and promote resilient communities.

The State Project Coordinator of NFWP-SU, Mr William Fele Agber, said community participation and ownership were critical to the success of the programme.

Agber explained that Women Affinity Groups would serve as the foundation for the programme’s empowerment activities, providing women with opportunities for collective savings, access to financial services, training, knowledge-sharing and livelihood development.

He therefore appealed to residents to embrace the intervention and support the formation and effective operation of WAGs in their communities.

In his remarks, the Adah of Okpokwu, His Royal Highness James Ejembi Okefe, welcomed the NFWP-SU team and expressed appreciation for the decision to include Okpokwu among the pilot local government areas.

The traditional ruler pledged the support of the traditional council, noting that empowering women remained essential to improving household welfare and accelerating community development.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Council, Hon. Adah Mathew Inalegwu, described the intervention as a timely opportunity to improve the economic wellbeing and resilience of women in the area.

The community entry exercise has so far covered Okpoga Central, Okpoga North, Ichama Wards I and II, Ingle/Okpale, Ojigo, Okpoga West and Okpoga South, with four council wards remaining.

The ongoing mobilisation has reinforced the administration’s message that empowering women is not merely a social intervention but a strategic investment in stronger households, vibrant communities and the economic future of Benue State.

15/08/2026

Benue Youths Champion Women's Inclusion in Leadership, Cite Commissioner Ikwue as Role Model

Friday, August 14, 2026

Youths in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State have called for deliberate efforts to create more leadership opportunities for women and young girls, saying their greater participation in decision-making would promote inclusive and sustainable community development.

The call was made during community entry engagements under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) in Ojigo and Ingle/Okpale Council Wards of the local government area.

The youths, who participated in Focus Group Discussions, maintained that women had the capacity to lead and contribute significantly to the development of their communities when given the necessary opportunities and support.

They pointed to Hon. Theresa Ikwue, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Benue State, as an example of a woman whose performance demonstrates that women can effectively occupy leadership positions and contribute to the wellbeing of society.

Representing the Councillor of Ojigo Ward, Mr Onyilo Ochoche Abah said expanding leadership opportunities for women and girls would empower them while encouraging younger generations to develop leadership ambitions and contribute positively to their communities.

He urged stakeholders to support initiatives that would increase women's participation in community leadership and development.

At a separate engagement with elderly men from Ingle/Okpale Ward, the Clan Head of Ingle Otanuche, Chief Iddah Pius, advocated greater support for women within the family.

According to him, husbands, brothers and fathers can significantly assist women by sharing responsibilities such as farm work and household chores, thereby creating more time for them to pursue income-generating activities and other productive ventures.

Speaking earlier at the Ingle/Okpale Ward engagement, the State Project Coordinator of NFWP-SU, Mr William Fele Agber, said the programme was focused on ensuring that women, especially those living in rural communities, were actively integrated into the development process.

Agber said the programme would support women to form Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) through which they could strengthen their livelihoods, build resilience and access economic opportunities.

He also emphasised the programme's “Do No Harm” principle, which he said was non-negotiable in protecting communities, WAG members and project personnel.

The Project Coordinator further encouraged participants to report any misconduct through the programme's toll-free line, 08000003434.

Meanwhile, the WAG Support Officer, Mrs Glory Ochigbo, called on qualified male and female candidates aged 20 years and above who were interested in serving as Ward Facilitators in Okpokwu to apply.

She announced that oral and written interviews for the positions would hold on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at L.G.E.A. Primary School, Ugwu, Okpoga, Okpokwu LGA.

The ongoing community entry activities by the Benue State Project Coordinating Unit (SPCU) have continued to record strong participation, with large numbers of women and men turning out in Ojigo and Ingle/Okpale Wards to receive information about the NFWP-SU and its opportunities.

The engagements are expected to further strengthen community ownership and participation in programmes designed to improve the livelihoods and economic resilience of women across rural communities in the state.

14/08/2026

ALIA HAS NEVER ABANDONED AGATU, EJEH FIRES BACK AT CRITICS

…Lists N29bn Obagaji-Okokolo-Agagbe road, security interventions, appointments, technical school, teaching hospital and $5m World Bank project

Friday, August 14, 2026

The Executive Chairman of Agatu Local Government Council, Hon. James Melvin Ejeh, has launched a blistering defence of Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Hyacinth Iormem Alia, dismissing claims that the governor has abandoned Agatu as false, politically motivated and completely at variance with the realities on the ground.

Ejeh, who spoke in direct response to allegations from the Agatu West Peace and Unity Forum, said the unprecedented interventions being witnessed across the local government under the Alia administration had made it impossible for anyone familiar with developments in Agatu to accuse the governor of neglect honestly.

According to him, virtually every major achievement recorded in Agatu under his administration as council chairman has been made possible by the “active moral, spiritual, financial and logistical support” of Governor Alia.

He declared: “There is nothing I would have done in Agatu Local Government without the active moral, spiritual, financial and logistical support of the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia. Everything Agatu has become today is because of his direct efforts.”

Ejeh said no previous administration in the state had demonstrated the level of commitment, concern and attention to Agatu that the Alia administration had shown, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, security and the welfare of displaced residents.

At the centre of his defence is the ongoing 43.5. kilometre Obagaji-Okokolo-Agagbe road, which he said was being constructed at a cost of about ₦29 billion.

He described the project as one of the most significant infrastructure interventions in Agatu since the return of democratic rule, stressing that successive administrations had promised the road without making meaningful progress.

“Today, that road is ongoing and safely ongoing. A large portion of it has already been done,” he said.

According to the council chairman, the road is already transforming security and economic access in the area, with travel time between Makurdi and Agatu expected to be reduced by about two hours when completed.

More importantly, he said the road passes through areas that had previously been notorious for insecurity, including communities around Egba and Ologba, thereby allowing security personnel to respond to emergencies within minutes rather than the two to three hours previously required.

“How can such a man be said to have abandoned Agatu Local Government?” Ejeh asked.

He also cited what he described as an unprecedented level of political representation for Agatu under Governor Alia, noting that an indigene of the area, Dr Margaret Adekemi Ijaguwa, currently serves as Commissioner for Education.

He said her appointment had already translated into concrete benefits, including plans for the establishment of a government technical school in Enungba, where land had been acquired, and preparations for construction were underway.

Ejeh further listed the appointment of Agatu indigenes into strategic government positions, including Idris Ojimbili, Senior Special Assistant on Community Mobilisation, and Philip Otukpa, as well as other Agatu sons serving on government boards and agencies.

The chairman also disclosed that plans had reached an advanced stage for the establishment of a Benue State University teaching hospital in Agatu, saying the technical groundwork and site assessment had been completed and that construction was expected to commence before the end of the year.

On security, Ejeh said the Alia administration had supplied more than 45 motorcycles to Agatu for use by conventional security personnel and community-based vigilante groups to strengthen rapid response to threats.

He said the intervention had significantly improved the ability of security personnel and local vigilantes to reach vulnerable communities quickly.

The council chairman also highlighted the role of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in providing monthly food assistance to internally displaced persons in Agatu, saying support had continued through July.

He said Governor Alia had also facilitated Agatu's inclusion in a World Bank-supported SOLID project, with more than $5 million expected to be deployed to support displaced persons and conflict-affected communities in the local government.

Ejeh explained that the inclusion was not accidental, but followed the governor's insistence that Agatu, given its long history of violent conflict and displacement, should benefit from the intervention.

He acknowledged that the return of displaced persons to their ancestral communities remained a major challenge, but insisted that the security situation had changed fundamentally.

According to him, communities that were previously under siege and where residents could not safely access their farms are now accessible.

“The communities are no longer under attack. We challenge them to point to one community that is not safe,” he said.

He explained that the slow return of some displaced residents was largely attributable to destroyed homes, damaged infrastructure and the absence of basic facilities, rather than continuing attacks.

Ejeh said the council, in collaboration with the state government and development partners, was working towards rehabilitating schools, health facilities and other public infrastructure in affected communities to facilitate sustainable resettlement.

He disclosed that the council had already commenced the renovation of schools in Ikpele, one of the communities that suffered displacement, and would extend the exercise to other wards.

He also credited Governor Alia with supporting efforts to strengthen the long-term security architecture of Agatu, including the proposed establishment of a Nigerian Army mega battalion in the local government.

According to him, Governor Alia personally nominated Agatu as one of the locations for the proposed military formation, describing the development as potentially transformative for the security of the area.

Adding to the list of infrastructure projects, Ejeh disclosed that the governor had awarded a five-kilometre township road project estimated at ₦4.9 billion in Agatu, with designs and preparatory work already completed ahead of commencement.

For Ejeh, the combination of road construction, security interventions, political appointments, education projects, healthcare plans, humanitarian assistance and development partnerships represents compelling evidence that Agatu is receiving attention from the state government.

He therefore challenged those accusing Governor Alia of abandoning the local government to provide evidence capable of outweighing the projects and interventions already underway.

“There is no way I would have succeeded without the efforts of the governor. This is the truth. This is not politics,” Ejeh declared.

He said while the challenges facing Agatu remained enormous, the appropriate response was sustained collaboration rather than what he described as attempts to create a false narrative of abandonment.

Ejeh insisted that Governor Alia's interventions had not only delivered physical infrastructure but had also helped restore confidence among residents who had lived for years under the shadow of insecurity.

He maintained that the administration would continue working with the state government, security agencies, development partners and affected communities to ensure that displaced Agatu residents ultimately return to their ancestral homes and rebuild their lives.

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