From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue State Police Command has arrested 34 suspects for cultism and gun-running in the state.
Parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Makurdi, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Steve Yabanet, said no criminal would be spared as the command had increased the intensity of operations to clamp down on criminal elements in the state.
Recall that the command had arrested 26 suspects a few days ago for various crimes. The Commissioner stated that more were arrested shortly after, bringing the number to 34.
While presenting the achievements of the Benue State Police Command, the Commissioner said the command, in its renewed commitment to clamp down on cultism, robbery, and other criminal activities in the state, arrested 34 suspects across the state for various offences.
He said: “On 14/11/2024 at about 1320 hrs, information was received at ‘C’ Police Division, Makurdi, that the corpse of a young man was seen at North Bank, Makurdi. Swiftly, detectives were deployed to the scene for investigation.
“In the course of the investigation, it was revealed that the death of the suspect was as a result of a rival cult clash. Information was also gathered about hideouts in the area.
“On 17/11/2024, at about 2200 hrs to 0200 hrs of 18/11/2024, a joint operational team of the Police, the Army, and NSCDC, working on actionable intelligence, raided hideouts and arrested eighteen (18) suspected cultists at Avis Hotel and other areas of North Bank. Illicit drugs were recovered from their various hideouts.
“On 19/11/2024, at about 2200 hrs, further joint operations were carried out by the operatives of Cyber Crime, Eagle Eye, and the Anti-Cult Department of the command. They launched an aggressive raid at the hideouts of the suspected cultists and apprehended 14 more suspects.
“Exhibits recovered from them include two locally made pistols, three live cartridges, leaves suspected to be marijuana, six mobile phones, cash totalling ₦23,670.00, one single-barrel gun, three ATM cards, criminal charms, a shisha smoking pot, one laptop, and one graven image.”
He said the suspects would soon be charged to court.
The Commissioner also stated: “On 18/11/2024 at about 1025 hrs, while police officers were on routine stop-and-search duties along Ikyobo-Agbede Road, Ushongo LGA, they intercepted one Daniel Emmanuel on a motorcycle.”
He said Emmanuel was searched on the spot, and two locally made pistols were recovered from his bag, along with one Bajaj motorcycle. He added that an investigation is ongoing to unravel the source of the firearms and their intended recipients.
Yabanet enthused that the achievements were a testament to the command’s commitment to rid the state of crime and criminality.
He vowed that the fight would be sustained to ensure the security and safety of Benue residents.
He urged the people of the state to cooperate with the police by providing useful and timely information.