It
was, indeed, two weeks of unusual operation and clampdown on criminals and
criminality by officers and men of the Benue state Police command heralding Mr.
Bashir Makama, as the new Police Commissioner in the state.
The
period saw the re-awakening of the service zeal and orientation of the average
Policeman in the State leading to intensive patrols and raids of criminal
hideouts in the State, resulting in the arrest of over 60 suspected armed
robbers, kidnap suspects and cultists, including notorious ones with the
recovery of various calibre of firearms, hundreds of ammunition, six stolen
vehicles and three motorcycles.
Parading
the suspects and recovered items at the command headquarters in Makurdi, the
Commissioner of Police who gave a detailed account of the operation noted that
his first few days of assumption of office in the state were greeted with a
barrage of criminal activities from men of the underworld.
He
said, “It was like my first baptism in the state, but I also quickly alerted
the masterminds that I am not here for a tea party, my mission to Benue state
is to ensure the peace, security and safety of lives and property of the people
and by extension, to also ensure that the people sleep with their two eyes
closed.
The
arrest of Executioner
“In
fact, among those being paraded were the masterminds of kidnap cases in parts
of the state, members of notorious cult groups and someone they called the
executioner who were all behind the killing of students at the Federal
University of Agriculture, the Benue State University, all in Makurdi and in
parts of the town.
The
state- wide crackdown also took us to Katsina/Ala which used to be a no- go-
area, because of the level of criminality in the area and the way criminal
gangs carried on as if they were laws unto themselves. We have taken the battle
to the gangs and dislodged them and Katsina/Ala is now safe.”
New
strategy adopted
Mr.
Makama said the success recorded within the last two weeks was also made
possible by the strategy he adopted upon assumption of office in the state.
“What we did was to situate police checks within communities and residential
areas which are soft targets. It is a strategy that gave the people a sense of
safety and confidence that we are determined to face criminals headlong.
My
plea is that the people should be the whistle blowers by volunteering
information and intelligence to the police.” According to him, in the course of
the operation, the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Patrol team on stop-
and-search by Secretary to the State Government’s, SSG, office in Makurdi,
intercepted and arrested five alleged notorious armed robbery suspects who had
been terrorizing Kwande and its environs.
“Also
arrested by our operatives at Kwande was one Aondovee Ugba of Maar Asar Turan.
One locally- made single barrel gun was recovered from him and some beverages
collected on gunpoint from one Atam Nyankyume of Mbakyan Nanev. One Tersoo
Avine, was also arrested at the North Bank area of the town and an when we
carried out on- the- spot search on him, we recovered 7 rounds of live
ammunition. On interrogation, the suspect led us to the hide out of the
criminal gang and we arrested 3 others, recovered 2 motorcycles.”
Passers-by
to the rescue
“We
also have with us two men named Sunday and one Frank who, armed with a pistol,
attacked one chemist named Christian Odo of No. 62, Okpiko Street, Otukpo and
robbed him of N65,000, 2 handsets valued M47, 000, and injured the victim who
raised alarm. Passers-by came to his rescue and arrested one Sunday with a
locally- made pistol while others escaped. The suspect was beaten by the mob;
he was later rushed to the General Hospital where he was confirmed dead. We are
still investigating the case.”
Cultists
on rampage nabbed
Continuing
he said, “On August 4th., Terzungwa Angula and Zaidu Inusa, both of Gboko West,
were arrested on information that they are cult members and also in possession
of firearm. Search warrant was executed in their houses where a locally- made
pistol, 3 live and 2 expended ammunitions, charms, battle axe, bunch of keys ,
military trouser, face cap, 6 Airtel, 2 Etisalat, 1 Glo & 1 MTN sim cards
were recovered.
Kidnappers
on the prowl
According
to CP Makama, the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, CIID, of
the command also received information on July 21st. that a gang of kidnappers
who were responsible for the past and recent kidnapping activities within Benue
State, were in Makurdi plotting some criminal activities.
“Based
on the strength of the information, a team of detective from the State CIID
immediately swung into action and arrested the following persons; Maka Ashinta
of Nanev district, Kwande LGA and one Aondoyanvenga Tyohemba of 72 Barrack’s
road Makurdi. During our investigations, the suspects voluntarily confessed to
the Police that they were allegedly sent by one Terwase Agwaza aka ‘Gana’ to
Warri in Delta State with the sum of N1.8million to procure arms and
ammunitions in preparation to fight the Benue State Government and its
citizens. We are still investigating the matter,” he added.
Arrest
of kidnap and robbery king pin
Speaking
further the Commissioner said a tip off on the Police early this month led to
the arrest of an alleged kidnap and robbery kingpin, Teryila Ugaa aka Jugas,
who was holding a meeting with his gang members at Tom Ataan Shitile District
of Katsina Ala LGA.
“Our
team of operatives swiftly mobilized to the place where the hoodlums on
sighting the Police, engage them in a gun duel and in the process, the said
Teeryila Ugah, Gande Adi and Onowe Adi, were fatally injured and were rushed to
hospital where they were confirmed dead, while other members of the gang
escaped with bullet wounds. A Takorov Pistol with 5 live ammunition were
recovered from the gang” .
The
Police Commissioner explained that some of the suspects had been charged to
court while investigations into some of the cases were still ongoing. He urged
criminal minded individuals to have a rethink and synergise with the Police or
leave the state cautioning that the operation would be a continuous exercise
warning that no one would undermine his determination to ensure the security,
safety and protection of lives and property in the state. Source
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