NEWS
Benue: Ex-Gov Ortom Released By EFCC After Hours Of Detention
Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has been released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after 10 hours of being in detention.
As previously reported by BIZTELLERS, Ortom willingly responded to the commission’s invitation on Tuesday morning at approximately 10:00am.
Accompanied by two of his former aides, former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom arrived at the Makurdi zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) situated on Alor Gordon Street in the state capital.
Terver Akase, Ortom’s media aide, and Abraham Kwanhgu, Principal Special Assistant on Special Duties, were observed accompanying him.
Ortom underwent thorough questioning by EFCC detectives regarding the financial management during his tenure as governor of Benue State. Outside the commission’s premises, an unnamed aide of Ortom assured journalists that there was no cause for alarm.
The aide emphasized that the questioning was a regular procedure and addressing inquiries about his eight-year administration would naturally take several hours.
He said “It’s a normal routine. And you don’t expect him to just be through in a jiffy – answering questions about his eight years administration will surely take some hours. But, he will soon be done.”
Recall that during a cabinet valedictory session held at the old banquet hall of the Government House in Makurdi, Samuel Ortom, the former governor, addressed his council members, urging them not to be fearful if they were ever summoned by the EFCC for questioning.
Ortom made it clear that he was not a coward and would not shy away from cooperating with the EFCC if they approached him.
“I want to assure all of you that if the EFCC comes for me, I will follow them without hesitation,” Ortom stated boldly. He reassured his cabinet members that he had no investments in Europe and that all his assets were within the state. Furthermore, he openly challenged anyone accusing him of any wrongdoing to come forward with evidence and prove their claims.
The presence of the former governor at the EFCC facility sparked significant reactions on social media, with many users applauding the anti-graft body for taking action and urging a thorough investigation into Ortom’s administration.
Meanwhile, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State expressed its appreciation for the former governor’s voluntary cooperation in responding to questions regarding his eight-year tenure in office.
Bemgba Iortyom, the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, emphasized that Ortom willingly visited the EFCC’s Makurdi office in response to their invitation, and the party commended his conduct as an example of transparency and a clear conscience.
In a shocking incident on Sunday morning, unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers invaded the home of Alhaji Auwal, a prominent businessman, in Garo Town, Kabo Local Government Area of Kano State.
The gunmen, estimated to be around 10 in number, forced their way into the residence, breaking down a door to gain entry.
An anonymous source revealed that the attackers were heavily armed, with three carrying firearms and the rest wielding other weapons.
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They quickly gathered the entire family in one room, instilling fear and panic in the household.
According to the source, Alhaji Auwal pleaded with the assailants to spare his family and agreed to meet their demands.
The kidnappers, who were determined to extort money, received ₦8 million from the family.
Despite this payment, the gunmen took the businessman’s eldest daughter, Zainab, a secondary school graduate, before fleeing the scene.
The whereabouts of Zainab remain unknown, and as of now, the kidnappers have not contacted the family.
This abduction comes just 48 hours after the tragic kidnapping and subsequent murder of former Gombe State Permanent Secretary, Atiku Mu’azu, who was killed by gunmen after a ₦10 million ransom was paid.
The two incidents have left the residents of Kano in shock and fear, prompting calls for increased security measures in the area.
Attempts to reach the spokesperson for the Kano Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, for comment were unsuccessful as his phone remained unreachable.
Authorities have yet to make any official statements regarding the investigation.
In a bold move, Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared on Sunday that he would not allow US deportation flights carrying Colombian migrants to access his country’s airspace.
The left-wing leader took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his strong stance, stating, “The United States cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I forbid entry to our territory to US planes carrying Colombian migrants.”
Petro made it clear that such flights would only be accepted once Washington established a protocol to ensure the “dignified treatment” of deported migrants.
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The president later confirmed in a separate post that he had already turned back US military planes that were en route with Colombian migrants on board, although he did not provide further specifics on the matter.
While AFP sought confirmation from US authorities regarding the blockade of deportation flights, no immediate response was forthcoming.
Petro’s statements come just a day after Brazil’s government voiced similar outrage over the treatment of deported Brazilians.
Brazil condemned the US administration under President Donald Trump, citing instances where Brazilian migrants were deported while handcuffed on flights, describing it as a “flagrant disregard” for their basic rights.
In his remarks, Petro emphasized that he would be open to allowing civilian US flights to transport deported migrants as long as they were not subjected to treatment “like criminals,” signaling a broader call for humane treatment of migrants under international deportation policies.
An explosion at a mining site in Sabon Pegi, Mashegun Local Government Area of Niger State, claimed the lives of four individuals and left several others injured on Sunday morning.
The blast occurred as miners resumed operations, sending shockwaves through the community.
While the exact cause of the explosion remains undetermined, local residents have pointed to the poor handling of explosive devices by mining companies as a possible factor.
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The incident has sparked concerns about safety practices within the mining sector.
Community sources confirmed the recovery of four bodies, but authorities fear the death toll could rise.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the blast and assess the full extent of the damage.
One resident, Aminu, described the chaos that followed the explosion. “The sound was so loud that many of us thought it came from the hydroelectricity dam nearby. People panicked and ran into the bush for safety,” he recounted.
Another community member highlighted the potential role of mining operations in the tragedy.
“Mining companies here frequently use explosives during their activities, and this seems like an operational issue, not something related to terrorism,” the resident said, dismissing concerns about a security threat in the area.
As of the time of reporting, neither the state government nor security agencies have released an official statement regarding the explosion.
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