The Benue State Police Command has arrested seven suspects for kidnapping and armed robbery in Ogbadibo, Logo, and Gboko Local Government Area of the state.
This was disclosed by CP Okoro Julius, the Benue State Police Command’s commissioner of police, during a press conference on Tuesday in his Makurdi office.
At the command headquarters, CP Okoro paraded the suspects and declared that the command will not put up with criminals determined to thwart state police efforts.
In the state, he observed, it has become a pattern for those who ought to cooperate with the police to be busy setting houses on fire and causing other property damage.
He issued a warning, stating that he will follow the law when dealing with anyone who disturbs the peace of the state.
The CP, who cited examples of cases of mischief by fire at Oju and Logo where he has arrested and arraigned about 37 suspects, promised not to relent in the fight against crime.
According to a statement by the Benue State Police Public Relation Officer, (PPRO), SP Catherine Aneneshe said, “Following reports of kidnapping within Ogbadibo and Ohimini Local Government Area, (LGA), the Commissioner of Police, Cp. Okoro Alawari Julius deployed Police teams to survey these areas and identify criminal hideouts for follow-up operations.
“On 27/6/2023 during a surveillance patrol, information was received about suspected kidnappers that were lodged in a hotel at Orokam, Ogbadibo LGA.
“A search conducted at the hotel led to the arrest of the following suspects, Idris Ibrahim, Sani Mohammed, Homidu Dauda, Aliyu Adamu, and Salisu Yakubu who lodged in a room and attempted to escape from the hotel on sighting the Police.”
According to the statement, the suspects, who identify themselves as cattle rearers, were unable to provide a credible description of who they were and what they were doing at the hotel.
On their arrest, one camouflage trouser, one beret, and one motorcycle were recovered from them.
Similarly, “On 21/6/2023 at about 1145hrs, information was received that three-armed men invaded Tse-Agbu Village, Logo LGA and kidnapped one Idang Francis.
“While escaping with the victim, the suspects were intercepted, the victim rescued and two of the suspects escaped to a nearby forest while one was arrested.”
Also “On 2/6/2023 at about 2020hrs, while an Anti-kidnapping police team was on routine patrol at Lubona Junction, Gboko, they intercepted and arrested one Terhide Kende suspected to have concealed arms in his bag.
“On-the-spot search of the suspect led to the recovery of one locally made pistol loaded with ammunition.
According to the statement, attempts are being undertaken to apprehend suspects who are still at large while investigations are still ongoing in all of the incidents.
