From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Police in Benue state said it has arrested a total number of 273 suspects in connection with capital offences including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, cyber crime among others.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Hassan Yabanet disclosed this in Makurdi on Monday while speaking on the achievements of the command from April to December 2024.
He stated that within the period under review, the command also recovered 20 firearms, 51 ammunitions and other exhibits including one car, one tricycle and 14 motorcycles.
The CP also said that out of the 273 suspects arrested, 250 have been charged to court.
The Commissioner who noted that the year 2024 came with several challenges said the command was able to surmount the challenges and ensured a relatively peaceful environment by deploying human and material resources to various parts of the state.
According to him, the command also employed non-kinetics measures like dialogue, advocacy and other alternative dispute resolution strategies to ensure that Benue communities remained peaceful.
In his speech CP Yabanet said “One of the major challenges bedevilling the state is the issue of cultism which he regretted that the command was still fighting.
He said while some suspects have been charged to court, the command have a total number of seven suspected cultists in custody arrested from North Bank in Makurdi, Daudu in Guma LGA and Otukpo Local Government Area.
“They include Donald Aguma ‘m’ of Daudu, Tyoshar Aondoaseer ‘m’ of Daudu, Tsena Joseph ‘m’ of Daudu, and Benjamin Andrew Augustine of Otukpo. Garba Yusuf aka Totis, Ismail Dauda and Abdulahi Danjuma all ‘m’ of Wadata Makurdi were also arrested and one locally fabricated pistol was recovered.
He said the suspects will soon be charged to court and called on parents, teachers, religious leaders and traditional rulers to join the fight against cultism as it requires a “carrot and stick” approach to combat.
He also expressed worries over situation in the state where people are taking laws into their hands, particularly young people killing the elderly for alleged case of witchcraft.
He disclosed that “On 24/12/2024 at about 1900hrs, information was received that an aged woman was killed over an allegation of witchcraft in Egba village, Agatu LGA.
“During Investigation, one Bako Above ‘m’ 50yrs and Oyaje Clement ‘m’ 40yrs were arrested in connection to the case.”
He appreciated the state Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia for his support as well as the Inspector General of Police, IGP. Kayode Egbetokun, for being a pillar of the command.
The CP also extended his appreciation to officers of Benue state police command for their tireless efforts during this period and to all security agents in the state and the security Adviser to the Governor praying God to reward their hard work.
In a break down of major crimes statistics from April to December 2024, CP Yabanet said while 34 kidnap victims were rescued, 27 kidnap suspects, 54 robbery suspects, 63 suspected cultists, 47 rape suspects, 41 cybercrime suspects respectively were arrested while six others were arrested for Culpable Homicide.