Benue volunteer guards arrest mechanic with gun

The operatives of Benue State Community Volunteer Guards (BSCVG) have arrested a 29-year-old mechanic in possession of illegal firearm at Wadata, a suburb of Makurdi metropolis of the state.

The suspect, Ochoepo Aledu, was arrested at the weekend around 8pm while trying to evade the security operatives.

Our correspondent gathered that the suspect had earlier interfered with the apprehension of a group of people in the neighbourhood who were taking a substance suspected to be “Ice” and weed, known as Indian hemp.

It was learnt that the situation became tensed following the aggressiveness of the suspect, who kept demanding that they be freed, a development which further degenerated to a fisticuff.

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The suspect, who allegedly ran into a nearby shop while being pursued, mistakenly dropped his gun in an attempt to shoot and scare one of the operatives who overpowered him and pinned him down until support came.

The suspect, a married with a child, is said to be a mechanic who worked at the Wadata mechanic village.

He told journalists while being paraded at the headquarters of the BSCVG in Makurdi that he was not the owner of the gun that fell off from him causing his was apprehended.

However, the Commander of BSCVG, Capt. Ayomi Ajovbi (rtd), who paraded the mechanic, said the suspect, ‘’who seem to be a cultist from his behaviour and action will be handed to the relevant authority for further investigation.’’

Ajovbi, further said the effort was aimed at tackling criminal elements whose activities continue to pose threat to residents having launched campaigns against cultism and other related criminal activities weeks ago as championed by the special adviser on security to Benue State Governor, Joseph Har.

The commander also warned that anyone out to cause trouble will not go free as his operatives are everywhere in the communities to complement effort of other security agencies in tackling crime during the yuletide season.