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

The Benue State Police Command has arrested 34 foreign nationals suspected of clandestine activities, rescued 29 kidnapped victims and apprehended 14 suspects in a series of security operations across the state in October.

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

He said 16 Cameroonian nationals were arrested in Otukpo Local Government Area on October 9 for allegedly failing to produce the required travel documents, while 18 Nigerien nationals were intercepted at Orokam on October 22 while reportedly travelling to Ikom, Cross River State.

CP Nwadiogbu said investigations were ongoing to establish their immigration status and circumstances of entry into the country, with the Nigeria Immigration Service expected to be involved.

He disclosed that 29 kidnapped victims were rescued through coordinated operations involving the police, Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, Operation Zenda Joint Task Force, the Benue State Civil Protection Guards and local vigilantes.

Among the rescues were four passengers abducted after gunmen attacked a commercial vehicle along the Uzer axis of Ayilamo–Tse-Abi Road in Logo LGA on October 5, killing the driver.

Another 17 farmers were rescued from Tse-Acha and Tse-Wuam communities in the same local government area on October 7.

In Ohimini LGA, eight victims, including a Catholic priest, were rescued following their abduction along the Ugbokolo–Ajegbe–Awume Road on October 13.

Two suspects were arrested in connection with the incident, while the rescued victims were taken to the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, for medical attention.

CP Nwadiogbu said the command also recovered seven locally fabricated firearms and 16 rounds of ammunition and cartridges during operations against suspected cultists and other criminal elements.

One suspected bandit was neutralised during an encounter with security operatives along Amaafu–Abaji Road in Katsina-Ala LGA on October 2.

The commissioner further disclosed that investigations were ongoing into cases involving the alleged abuse of two children in Kwande LGA, one of whom died, the fatal attack on a resident in Makurdi allegedly by suspected cultists, and the alleged defilement of a 10-year-old girl in Ado LGA. Suspects have been arrested in connection with the cases.

He urged residents to provide credible information to security agencies and resolve disputes through lawful means, assuring the public that the command would sustain intelligence-led operations, patrols and collaboration with other security agencies to tackle kidnapping, cultism, illegal possession of firearms and other crimes.

The police command said its operations during the period reflected its determination to identify, arrest and prosecute offenders in accordance with the law.