The Benue Police Command says it arrested 58 suspects for homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and related offences, while 17 suspected criminals were neutralised in separate statewide operations.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Makurdi.
Nwadiogbu said the operations, carried out between June 26 and July 13, demonstrated the command’s determination to rid the state of criminal elements through intelligence-led policing and collaboration with other security agencies.
He disclosed that seven Pakistani nationals found in a hotel in Otukpo were profiled after informing police they were in the town to conduct a market survey and feasibility study for an electronics business.
He said the Pakistanis were later transferred to the force headquarters for further investigation.
The commissioner said police had arrested the principal suspect in the killing of Prof. Gabriel Nyityo and his younger brother in Makurdi after he was intercepted at an NDLEA checkpoint in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
He disclosed that additional suspects were arrested in connection to the case in Lafia.
He also confirmed the arrest of a suspect linked to the recent attack on the Otukpo-Nobi community, saying investigations had identified other persons believed to have aided the attackers.
Nwadiogbu said 12 suspected cult members were arrested in Gboko during an operation targeting the annual “7/7” cult celebration, with an axe and a cutlass recovered from the suspects.
He said exhibits recovered during the operations included four AK-47 rifles, 23 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, six locally fabricated pistols, two motorcycles, four mobile phones, three bags of suspected cannabis and several charms.
He said three suspects were arrested over the killing of a Cross River indigene in Konshisha Local Government Area, adding that the incident was a reprisal for the earlier murder of Pastor Aor Iorzua in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River.
According to him, swift intervention by police authorities in Benue and Cross River prevented the incidents from escalating into an inter-state communal crisis, while investigations and peace meetings are ongoing.
He said three suspected armed robbers and kidnappers were neutralised during a gun battle with Operation Zenda operatives in Makurdi, with an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, a locally made gun and charms recovered.
He disclosed that 10 suspects had been arrested over the killing of MACBAN state chairman Risku Mohammed and Yakubu Isah after a stakeholders’ security meeting in Ohimini.
Nwadiogbu further said police recovered a stolen motorcycle in Guma and arrested one robbery suspect after officers intercepted the suspects at a checkpoint, although another escaped with a firearm.
He added that five herders were arrested in Guma for grazing cattle on farmlands during a joint patrol involving police and other security agencies.
The commissioner said two armed robbery suspects were neutralised during an exchange of gunfire following an attack on a phone shop in Tor-Donga, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, with an AK-47 rifle, a pistol and ammunition recovered.
He said police also arrested one suspected cultist after rival groups clashed in Makurdi, while seven suspects were arrested in Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area, over the killing of a man during the burial of a youth leader.
He said four suspected bandits were neutralised during a raid on their hideout in Logo Local Government Area, where police recovered a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, ammunition, mobile phones and charms.
The commissioner also revealed that operatives intercepted four locally made Beretta pistols concealed inside a five-litre container on a passenger bus arriving in Makurdi from Kogi State, while the suspect escaped.
He said a joint security team raided a criminal hideout in Katsina-Ala, arresting 15 suspects and recovering three bags of substances suspected to be cannabis.
Nwadiogbu further said police arrested a woman in Ukum Local Government Area for allegedly setting his lover’s house ablaze, resulting in the death of two children.
The police commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
He assured that the command would sustain intelligence-driven operations and ensure that criminal elements were brought to justice. (NAN)
