The Benue State Police Command paraded 35 suspects on Tuesday for alleged kidnapping, fraud, cultism, and armed robbery, amongst other crimes in the state.
Commissioner of Police Hassan Yabanet disclosed this during his maiden briefing in Makurdi.
He said since he assumed office in April, officers in the command have arrested 35 persons for alleged kidnapping, fraud, cultism, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms, amongst others.
“Upon assumption of duty, I have taken time to tour part of the state and have a direct assessment of the security situation in the state. The tour brought about reforms that are already yielding results, as evident in what you will see today.
“I have been able to redeploy officers to areas where they will function better and have mapped out strategies and flash points where police attention is extremely required.
“Some of the areas where attention has been paid to are the dismantling of illegal roadblocks, strengthening the anti-cybercrime and anti-kidnapping units, as well as ongoing operations to clamp down on bandits in several local government areas,” he said.
He said on May 20, a team of police officers received information about the kidnappers’ hideout at Welfare Quarters, Makurdi and detectives detailed in the area arrested them.
He said upon their arrival at the scene, the kidnappers engaged them in a gun duel but were overpowered by the police’s superior firepower and arrested Dickson Orinya, Ebia Omirigwe and Ejeh Miriam.
He said one of the suspects sustained a gunshot injury and was rushed to Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi, where he was confirmed dead and his corpse deposited at the hospital.
Items recovered from the scene of the crime, according to him, included one AK-47 rifle loaded with 15 rounds of live ammunition, seven POS machines and 150 ATM cards from different banks. He added that investigations are ongoing.
Yabanet also said that on May 14, police operatives arrested Terpase Denmodi and Avalumun Ayangekaa at Jerome Hwande Street, Akpa-Quarters, Makurdi, over alleged internet fraud.
According to him, seven HP laptops, one Apple note, one Canon printer, 15 Ghana cedis, 200 international passports, and assorted clothes, among other items, were recovered from them.
He said the suspects confessed that most of their victims were foreigners and they had students that they usually trained in the fraud business at the house. They also confessed that the trainees share the proceeds of fraud with them as they go out to practice.
Commissioner of Police Yabanet further disclosed that police operatives on May 14 also arrested eight persons in a hotel room along Kashim Ibrahim Road, Makurdi for alleged fraud.
He listed those arrested to include Usman Aliu, Orga Israel, David Tersoo, Aondofa Michael, Tega Wisdom, Alexander Torgbenda, Emmanuel Idyede and Elvis Francis.
He also disclosed that on May 6, a group of armed men blocked the Makurdi-Naka highway and robbed victims of their motorcycles.
“They kidnapped one other victim and collected N2 million from the family before the victim was released. In the course of the kidnapping, one victim raised an alarm that led to the arrest of one suspect named Mohammed Ibrahim, who could not meet up with his other colleagues as they were being chased,” he said.
The suspect allegedly confessed that he and his gang members usually kidnap people along Naka Road and collect ransom.
Police operatives also arrested Emmanuel Bundepum, Ado Joshua, Shaorga Ushahem, James Ushambe, Ebugwe Stephen, Teryile Kave and Tivlumun Martins over fraud.
Exhibits recovered from them included 10 laptops, four phones, parcels of substances suspected to be illicit drugs and a camouflage uniform.
