Police Arrest 34 Foreign Nationals, 14 Others, Recover Firearms In Benue
By Aloysius Chiahemba, Makurdi
The Benue State Police Command has arrested 34 foreign nationals, comprising 16 Cameroonians and 18 Nigeriens, over suspected clandestine activities, irregular entry and inability to provide satisfactory explanations regarding their movements in the state.
The Command also arrested 14 other suspects for various offences, rescued 29 kidnapped victims, recovered seven locally fabricated firearms and 16 rounds of ammunition and cartridges.
At least, one suspected bandit was neutralised during operations across the state in October.
The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing at the Command’s headquarters in Makurdi, where he reviewed the security situation and operational achievements recorded during the month.
Giving details of the arrests involving the foreign nationals, Nwadiogbu said 16 Cameroonian nationals were arrested by police operatives in Otukpo Local Government Area on October 9 after they allegedly failed to produce the required travel documents.
He said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were being investigated over alleged clandestine activities and suspected involvement in heinous crimes.
The Commissioner further disclosed that 18 Nigerien nationals were intercepted by police operatives at Orokam in Ogbadibo Local Government Area on October 22 while reportedly transiting to Ikom in Cross River State.
According to him, the suspects could not provide satisfactory explanations regarding their journey and circumstances of entry into Nigeria, prompting their transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and profiling.
Nwadiogbu said the Nigeria Immigration Service would be involved in the investigation to establish the immigration status of the foreigners and determine appropriate action in accordance with the law.
He stressed that investigations into the two cases were ongoing and that any further action would be guided by the outcome of investigations and applicable legal procedures.
On the Command’s efforts against kidnapping, the Commissioner said 29 victims were rescued during various operations in the state.
He recalled that on October 5, a commercial vehicle was attacked along the Uzer Village axis of the Ayilamo–Tse-Abi Road in Logo Local Government Area, during which the driver was killed and four passengers abducted.
Nwadiogbu said police operatives, working with personnel of Operation Whirl Stroke, Benue State Civil Protection Guards and local hunters, subsequently rescued the four victims.
He added that on October 7, 17 farmers abducted from Tse-Acha and Tse-Wuam Communities in Bamun Village, Tombo District of Logo LGA, were rescued by personnel of Operation Zenda Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke and local vigilantes.
Similarly, eight victims, including a Reverend Father, who were abducted on October 13 along the Ugbokolo–Ajegbe–Awume Road in Ohimini Local Government Area, were rescued between October 16 and 18, while two suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.
On cultism and illegal possession of firearms, the Commissioner said the Command recorded several arrests and recovered locally fabricated weapons in separate operations in Naka, Makurdi, Aliade and Katsina-Ala.
He said two suspects were arrested along the Aondoana–Naka Road in Gwer West LGA on September 25 with a locally fabricated revolver pistol.
According to him, operatives of ‘D’ Division, Makurdi, also arrested two suspects with a pistol on September 26, while Aliade Division operatives arrested another suspect with two locally fabricated pistols on September 30.
Nwadiogbu said three suspects were further arrested by operatives of Katsina-Ala Division on October 22 following alleged threats and destruction of property arising from a land dispute.
The operation, he said, led to the recovery of two locally fabricated pistols, four live cartridges and items bearing cult-related inscriptions, including a banner identified as belonging to “De Norsemen Kclub International.”
The Commissioner also disclosed that police personnel responded to an attack on Operation Zenda operatives along the Amaafu–Abaji Road in Katsina-Ala on October 2, during which one suspected bandit was neutralised and a firearm recovered.
Commenting on other violent crimes, Nwadiogbu said the Command arrested a suspect, Hemen Wuese, over the alleged severe physical abuse of two children in Injorov Village, Turan, Kwande LGA, an incident which resulted in the death of one of the children.
He also disclosed that three suspects were arrested in connection with the killing of a resident along Maiduguri Street, Wadata, Makurdi, on October 14.
In a related development, a 60-year-old man was arrested in Igumale, Ado LGA, over the alleged defilement of a 10-year-old girl.
The Commissioner attributed the operational achievements to intelligence led policing, prompt response to distress calls, sustained patrols and collaboration between the police, other security agencies and Community stakeholders.
He appealed to residents to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information to the police, stressing that Community cooperation was essential to identifying emerging threats, locating suspects, rescuing victims and preventing further criminal activities.
Nwadiogbu commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for his support and commitment to strengthening policing operations nationwide.
The Commissioner equally acknowledged the contributions of sister security agencies, Community leaders, local vigilantes and residents, saying their cooperation had continued to complement the efforts of the police in maintaining law and order in Benue.
