Police arrest 34 overseas nationals, rescue 29 kidnap victims in Benue

The Benue State Police Command has arrested 34 overseas nationals suspected of clandestine actions, rescued 29 kidnapped victims and apprehended 14 suspects in a collection of safety operations throughout the state in October.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Makurdi whereas briefing journalists on the command’s operational achievements, reaffirming the police dedication to defending lives, property and bringing offenders to justice.

He mentioned 16 Cameroonian nationals had been arrested in Otukpo Local Government Area on October 9 for allegedly failing to supply the required journey paperwork, whereas 18 Nigerien nationals had been intercepted at Orokam on October 22 whereas reportedly travelling to Ikom, Cross River State.

CP Nwadiogbu mentioned investigations had been ongoing to determine their immigration standing and circumstances of entry into the nation, with the Nigeria Immigration Service anticipated to be concerned.

He disclosed that 29 kidnapped victims had been rescued by means of coordinated operations involving the police, Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, Operation Zenda Joint Task Force, the Benue State Civil Protection Guards and native vigilantes.

Among the rescues had been 4 passengers kidnapped after gunmen attacked a business automobile alongside the Uzer axis of Ayilamo–Tse-Abi Road in Logo LGA on October 5, killing the driving force.

Another 17 farmers had been rescued from Tse-Acha and Tse-Wuam communities in the identical native authorities space on October 7.

In Ohimini LGA, eight victims, together with a Catholic priest, had been rescued following their abduction alongside the Ugbokolo–Ajegbe–Awume Road on October 13.

Two suspects had been arrested in reference to the incident, whereas the rescued victims had been taken to the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, for medical consideration.

CP Nwadiogbu mentioned the command additionally recovered seven domestically fabricated firearms and 16 rounds of ammunition and cartridges throughout operations towards suspected cultists and different legal components.

One suspected bandit was neutralised throughout an encounter with safety operatives alongside Amaafu–Abaji Road in Katsina-Ala LGA on October 2.

The commissioner additional disclosed that investigations had been ongoing into circumstances involving the alleged abuse of two youngsters in Kwande LGA, considered one of whom died, the deadly assault on a resident in Makurdi allegedly by suspected cultists, and the alleged defilement of a 10-year-old lady in Ado LGA. Suspects have been arrested in reference to the circumstances.

He urged residents to supply credible data to safety companies and resolve disputes by means of lawful means, assuring the general public that the command would maintain intelligence-led operations, patrols and collaboration with different safety companies to sort out kidnapping, cultism, unlawful possession of firearms and different crimes.

The police command mentioned its operations through the interval mirrored its willpower to determine, arrest and prosecute offenders in accordance with the regulation.