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Benue police parade 17 criminal suspects in Makurdi

By Joseph Wantu, Makurdi
25 January 2019   |   3:15 am
Benue State Police Command yesterday paraded 17 suspects for violent crimes ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, rape and cultism. Commissioner of Police, Omololu Bishi, explained that members of a deadly robbery gang, who operated along Otukpo-Enugu axis, were among the paraded suspects. He said the gang had on January 18, this year, kidnapped a woman…

[FILE] Benue

Benue State Police Command yesterday paraded 17 suspects for violent crimes ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, rape and cultism.

Commissioner of Police, Omololu Bishi, explained that members of a deadly robbery gang, who operated along Otukpo-Enugu axis, were among the paraded suspects.

He said the gang had on January 18, this year, kidnapped a woman in Otukpo and asked for ransom before the police waded into the matter.

He added that in the process, the woman was able to escape from the den of the kidnappers into the bush.

The commissioner added that the victim, who subsequently found her way back to town, led the police to the area where the kidnappers had kept her.

He said: “On sighting the police, the suspects were said to have opened fire on them, a development which made the police to respond, gunning down two of the suspects while seven others were arrested.”

Bishi disclosed that among items recovered from the suspects were three riffles of different makes with 30 rounds of ammunition.

Others included five military camouflages, and police uniform that was collected from a policeman at gunpoint during a robbery operation last year.

The recovered items also included 28 handsets, N4000 cash, ladies handbags, rings, jewelries and watches.

According to him, his men had also smashed another gang of three armed robbers who were operating in Zaki-Biam in Ukum Local Council Area of the state, killing the gang leader in a gun duel, while the two other suspects, including a 17 year old secondary school student were arrested.

He said the gang had robbed some persons in the area at gunpoint and raped a 50-year-old woman in the process after dispossessing her of her belongings.

The police commissioner also disclosed that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the Gboko political mayhem.

He urged political leaders in the state to warn their youths against acts that could disturb the peace of the state.

He also expressed worry about the proliferation of locally made pistols in the state, and advised those in possession of such firearms to immediately surrender them at the nearest police stations, so that they can be pardoned.

Bishi warned that anyone who fails to surrender such weapons, if caught, would be made to face the wrath of the law.

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