Police lose four officers to herders’ attacks in Benue

Arrest suspected kidnappers in Kebbi

The Benue Police Command says it has lost no fewer than four personnel to herdsmen’s attacks at Anyibe, near Ayilamo in Logo council area of the state. The force spokesman, Moses Yamu, in a statement yesterday in Makurdi, said the onslaught began around 6p.m. on Sunday and lasted till yesterday morning.

The statement reads in part: “The Benue State Police Command regrets to report that its personnel came under attack of insurgents at Anyibe, Logo local government area between 1800hrs of yesterday (Sunday), April 15, 2018 and early morning of today (yesterday).

“Sadly, at the moment, four casualties have been suffered by the police. “Additional reinforcement (including the Air Asset of the Police) deployed by the Inspector General of Police is on the trail of the murderous gang.

“They shall definitely be apprehended with their weapons of destruction and made to face the full wrath of the law.Also confirming the incident, the council chairman, Richard Nyajo said the death toll might rise.

He said the attack was carried out by herdsmen who ambushed a police patrol team in the area, adding that some persons were still missing.His words: “You know I can not confirm the specific number of people killed now. The attack was an ambush, and in that kind of situation, people normally flee in different directions.

So as they are coming out, they come with different versions of the incident.“We are still compiling the report but all we know for now is that people were attacked and killed by the herdsmen.”The latest makes it second of such attacks on a police patrol within the axis. The first equally claimed four officers.

However, the Kebbi command of the force has arrested four suspected kidnappers in Koko-Basse Local Council of the state and recovered N800,000 ransom from them. They had allegedly collected N500,000 and N300,000 from their victims before luck ran out on them.

The Guardian learnt that the suspects had kidnapped Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar Dikko Ardo and got N300,000 out of the N3 million ransom demanded from his family. They had also abducted another victim, whose name could not be traced immediately and collected a N500,000 ransom from his family.

A reliable source told newsmen yesterday in Birnin Kebbi that “the suspected kidnappers called the victim’s family and asked for N3 million, but could not get the money. They were able to gather N500,000 and he was released after payment.”

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Mustapha Suleiman, who confirmed the development, gave the names of the suspect as Mohammadu Many (aka Amadu); Muhammadu Muhammad; Umar Mohammadu and Abdulkarim Isiya.

He said they were heading for Zuru when nemesis caught up with them, adding that the N800,000 ransom had been seized by the police and the suspects would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.