The police command in Benue has nabbed no fewer than 273 persons for alleged capital offences and charged 250 of them to court within eight months.

The police disclosed this in a statement signed by the Commissioner of Police, Steve Yabanet, and made available to journalists on Monday in Makurdi.

Mr Yabanet said that a total of 273 suspects were apprehended in connection with capital offences between April and December 2024.

The CP said a total of 250 suspects were already charged to court, adding that they also recovered 20 firearms and 51 rounds of ammunition during the period.

He added that they also apprehended 27 kidnap suspects and rescued 34 kidnapped victims.

According to him, the command nabbed 54 armed robbery suspects and 63 suspected cultists.

Mr Yabanet said a total of 47 suspects were apprehended over rape charges and 41 suspects for cybercrime.

He further said that six suspects were apprehended in connection with culpable homicide suspects, and one car, one tricycle, and 14 motorcycles were recovered during the period.

The CP said that one of the major challenges bedevilling the state was the issue of cultism, which the command had been fighting.

“While some suspects have been charged to court, we have a total number of seven suspected cultists in custody apprehended from the North Bank, Daudu, and Otukpo areas.

“They included Donald Aguma ‘m’ of Daudu; Tyoshar Aondoaseer ‘m’ of Daudu; Tsena Joseph ‘m’ of Daudu; and Benjamin Andrew Augustine of Otukpo.

“Garba Yusuf, alias Totis; Ismail Dauda and Abdulahi Danjuma, all male, of Wadata in Makurdi, were also apprehended, and one locally fabricated pistol was recovered.

“These suspects will soon be charged to court.

“However, I call on parents, teachers, religious leaders, and traditional rulers to join the fight against cultism, as it requires a “carrot and stick” approach to combat,” he said.

Mr Yabanet said another worrisome situation in the state was the case of people taking laws into their own hands, particularly young people killing the elderly for alleged cases of witchcraft.

“On Dec. 24, information was received that an aged woman was killed over an allegation of witchcraft in Egba village in Agatu Local Government Area.

“During the investigation, one Bako Above, 50, and Oyaje Clement, 40, were apprehended in connection to the case,” he said.

He commended Gov. Hyacinth Alia and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for their unwavering support to the command so far.

(NAN)