The Police Command in Benue has arrested 18 suspects in connection with cultism, child trafficking, armed robbery, and vandalism.
The command made the disclosure in a statement signed by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Steve Yabanet, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Makurdi.
Yabanet said that the command on February 9, received information about renewed cult activities in the Wadata area of Makurdi.
The CP stated that the information revealed that members of the “Black Confraternity” went for a cult meeting across the River Benue and clashed with members of the “Red Confraternity.”
He said during the investigation, three corpses were recovered at the scene while ten suspects were arrested in connection with the crime.
Yabnet listed those arrested to include Simon Mande, Moses Tarlumun, Jamilu Idris, Joseph Seleki, Ahmed Dayabu, Muazu Usman, Akor Ada, Terfa Wergba, Almustapha Abubakar, and Usman Gambo.
The CP said the investigation was still ongoing to arrest other suspects and advised parents, teachers, and other stakeholders to warn their children/wards against such unlawful associations.
He further commended Wadata community members for their continuous collaboration with the police to fight cultism within the area, saying it has brought cult activities to a bearable minimum.
Yabnet also said that following the report of a missing child in North Bank, Makurdi, information was disseminated to members of the public for useful information about the child’s location.
The CP added that on February 9, information was received at ‘E’ Division Police Station Makurdi that one Obadiah Samaila of Kizito Junction, Agyragu, Doduguru, Nasarawa State was seen around George Akume way Makurdi with a boy.
He said Samaila could not give a satisfactory account of the boy’s origin; he was arrested, and he later confessed to have stolen the child from his house in North Bank for trafficking.
The CP further disclosed that on February 6, police officers from Naka Division, while on patrol along the Makurdi-Naka Road, intercepted and arrested Idris Garba, Mohammed Usman, Ibrahim Mohammed and Rafa Muazu all of Lafia, Nasarawa State.
He said they also arrested one Sunday Demekaa of Gwer-East Local Government Area with a Nissan truck loaded with iron pipelines suspected to be stolen.
He said the suspects failed to provide satisfactory account of how they got the items.
“Investigation revealed that these are petroleum pipelines been vandalized around Gwer-Local Government Area and taken to an unknown destination.
“Investigation is ongoing to identify other suspects that are connected with the case.” he said
Yabnet further stated that on February 7, credible information was received about a robbery gang operating around Yogbo Village in the Guma Local Government Area.
The CP said that investigators at Daudu Division conducted a raid in the area and arrested one Yakubu Kaatoma and Abu Ishaku, both of Tsekereke, Yogbo Village.
He said the suspects have been identified by one of their victims, and the investigation was still ongoing.
Yabnet assured the people that the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, was working tirelessly to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state.
He warned miscreants who have chosen to create unnecessary tension and cause unrest should desist or have the police to contend with.
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