The Benue state Police Command said they have beefed up security among other strategies to ensure safety of lives and property during the end of year festivities.
The command has also arrested about 15 suspects for sundry crimes including armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, rape among others.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Garba Mukaddas disclosed this in a press statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Catherine Anene.
He said “as we approach the end of the year and festive period, Benue State Police Command wishes to assure the good people of Benue State that adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure safety of lives and property.
“Strategies put in place include raid of criminal hide-outs within the State, redeployment of Police Officers at strategic points and increased vehicular and foot patrol.”
CP Mukaddas also disclosed that the Command has been able to forestall criminal activities such as kidnapping, robbery, homicide while arresting 15 suspects and recovering four rifles and 33 ammunition.
Those arrested include Agber Solomon, Tsavnande Iorzahan, Sesugh Yagba, Nyikyaa Tyokosu and Ahile Terungwa, a kidnap and armed robbery gang operating and terrorizing residents and motorists along Adikpo-Ogoja road.
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They were arrested in their hideout located at Mzaav village, Kwande Local Governmert Area of Benue State and the following items; one assault rifle (LAR), loaded with 16 rounds of live ammunition, one AK 47 rifie, three magazines loaded with 13 rounds of live ammmition, one locally made single barrel gun loaded with five cartridges, expended cartridges and one camouflage bag, were recovered from them.
Also, some suspected cultist and armed robbers operating at Wadata, Makurdi, Musa Umar alias “Miss Call, Yusuf Hassan and Dan Azumi alias “Ododoo” were arrested with one locally made revolver pistol, four live ammunition, one car key, a knife and three sim cards. The three suspects confessed to the crime.
Among others, the police also arrested one Abubakar Maigari, aged 40 years, for defiling an eight year old girl who was hawking water within his neighbourhood.
The police said Abubakar deceitfully invited the victim in the pretext of buying sachet water and dragged her into his room where he defiled her.
The commissioner further assured that the Command will continue to work tirelessly towards ensuring a crime free environment and advised members of public to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement of criminals around them to the Police.