The Police in Benue State have arrested some 15 suspects in connection with cult activities in different locations in Makurdi, the state capital.
State Commissioner of Police, Omololu Bishi, at his maiden press conference in Makurdi, said the feat was achieved within the past two weeks of his assumption of duty in the state.
“In line with the proactive measures put in place by the Benue State Commissioner of Police to bring crime to its barest minimum, especrally the rampant cases of cult related violence and other serious offences, the Command under my watch in the past two weeks has recorded the following successes,” he said.
Bishi enumerated that within the period, on January, 11, this year at about 10:00pm, based on credible information, FSARS patrol raided some black spots in Makurdi and arrested, James Agbo, 36, Abubakar Garba, 20, Lawal Muazu, 27, Mohammed Bala 30, (Receiver).
He said the suspects also specialised in robbing innocent citizens of their motorcycles, phones, and other valuables at gun point.
During investigation, several items were recovered from them, including one green golf car, one Honda CG motorcycle frame, two motorcycles fuel tanks, six motorcycles shock absorbers, half engine of a Honda CG motorcycle, one Infinix Note 6, one LG television set, one Home theatre set, one glass table and a DVD player.
The commissioner noted further that on January 13, at about 7:30pm, some black spots in Makurdi were raided when the suspects regrouped to carry out reprisal attack on rival cult group over the cult related killing at Wurukum area.
Bishi said six suspects were arrested with illicit drugs and a 25 litres of local gin (Ogogoro) in that raid by his men and they names of those apprehended are, Terhemen Emmanuel, 22, Francis Denen, 24, Chiahemba Timin, 45, Gershya Sambo, 30, Kenneth Aluga, 34 and Musa Anongo, 32.
Similarly, on same day, at about 3:30pm, the police commissioner disclosed that acting on a distress call that members of rival cult groups are on rampage in a cult rivalry clash, FSARS operatives responded and arrested another set of suspects to include, Kalu Otta, 33, Jeffrey Tarker, 23,, Abubakar Yahaya, 19 and Henry Nenge who is 20 years old.
He added that on January 12, at about 11:50pm, operatives of ‘C’ Division police station while on patrol, raided a criminal hideout along Alhaji Jidda street in North Bank area of Makurdi suburb and arrested one David Ijioma, 22, with an axe.
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