The police have paraded four suspects allegedly involved in the killing of nine of their personnel and several civilians in both Benue and Nasarawa communities since January 1, 2018.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Mr Habila Joshak, paraded the suspects on Tuesday evening at the Benue State Police Command.
“Mobile Police Officers ran into ambush and counter-ambush (and) we lost some officers; that also rather than discourage the police, we gathered courage.
“We went in headlong and I’m glad to let you know that those who had been linked to the gruesome murder of these police officers and other members of the community, and the destruction of the properties, have been rounded up,” he said.
Mr Joshak also informed reporters in Makurdi, the Benue state capital that credible intelligence and confessions of the suspects have led to more arrest of the perpetrators.
According to him, the arrests were made in Tunga, a community in Nasarawa State, where Governor Samuel Ortom (of Benue) had previously alleged that armed terrorists were camped.
Giving more updates on the arrest, the DIG said: “The attacks were (carried out) in several ways and in several periods and you know that they (the police officers) were nine, both here (in Benue) and in Nasarawa, that we lost.
“We have gotten this window and we’ve gotten these people that have confessed (to the killings); everyone that is connected, that is what we are doing.”
Mr Joshak further said intelligence has also led to the recovery of large cache of arms and series of breakthrough, adding that police would parade more of the suspects soon.
The arrest of the suspects is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, to ensure perpetrators of the killings in Benue and other parts of the country are brought to book.
The President had also ordered all security agencies in the country to be proactive in their duties and stay ahead of criminals at all times.
