The leadership of the Benue State Police Command has paraded several criminal elements terrorizing the locals in the middle-belt region.
File Photo
The Benue State Police Command has paraded over 30 suspected criminals who were arrested for various crimes ranging from kidnapping, rape, cultism and armed robbery across the state.
Among the paraded suspects were Timbee Shija and Doris Ternenge who were intercepted with a two-year-old boy earlier reported missing at a police station, by his father.
According to the Police Commissioner Bashir Makama, operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) had, while on surveillance at Ukum and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas of the state, arrested one Shulan Bernard and Kumaga Nyamgem of Abako town.
CP Makama said upon search, one G3 rifle with six rounds of life ammunition as well as one English made revolver pistol were recovered the suspects who were already giving the police useful information about their modus operandi and other members of their gang.
The police commissioner stated further that within the same period, three persons, Oche Emmanuel and ex-Cpl Alfred John alias Bamaiyi, both of Edikwu road, Otukpo and Okoro were arrested with 25 rounds of 9mm new live ammunition and criminal charms.
He disclosed that the suspects, who had been linked to the recent killing of a retired army general, Lawrence Ugboh, and a retired police ASP, were also fingered in several cult related killings, kidnapping and mischief by fire.
On rape, the commissioner said Terfa Ushahemba. Ways Francis, Iorkye Terkaa, Vue Stephen, Tersoo Apeize and Simon Terna all from Vandeikya town, after robbing a family, raped their 21 years old daughter in the presence of her parents and thereafter inflicted deep machete cuts on the father, mother and daughter.
Also paraded were nine teenage boys and girls suspected to be cultists at Aune-Adoka in Otukpo local government area of the state.
When a Daily Sun correspondent spoke with the suspects, most of them confessed to the various crimes and blamed the devil for their involvement in criminality.