The police command in Benue has confirmed the arrest of 176 suspects for allegedly committing various crimes in July.

Ifeanyi Emenari, Commissioner of Police (CP), Benue command, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press conference in Makurdi.

Mr Emenari said that the suspects were arrested for cult activities, armed robbery, banditry, theft and culpable homicide, among others.

The CP said that out of the 176, 22 were arrested for alleged cultism, 26 for alleged armed robbery, while others were for other various offences.

He also stated that the command within the said period recovered 30 different types of arms, 4000 different types of ammunition, 8 motorcycles, one tricycle and two vehicles from the criminals.

Mr Emenari explained further that some of the arms recovered included four rocket launchers, 12 AK-47s, 11 locally made pistols, and four locally fabricated rifles, among others.

The CP added that the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has successfully destroyed all the bandits camps in Benue.

He pointed out that with the destruction of the bandits camps, many locals have returned to their ancestral homes and farms in most parts of the state.

Mr Emenari said that criminals committing all kinds of atrocities and hiding under cover of bandits would be arrested and prosecuted.

The CP announced that he has relocated the area commander overseeing Otukpo axis to Agatu with strict orders to apprehend all criminals terrorising the area.

According to him, the command is conducting a series of operations and raids in Sankara axis to ensure that all the bandits and other criminal elements terrorising the area are apprehended.

“A large number of bandits have been repelled from these areas, while some were neutralised in the course of these operations.

“It is important at this point to mention that some police officers lost their lives during these operations.

“While we commiserate with their friends and families, we remain committed to this course, as our dear state cannot be left in the hands of criminals.

“Our desire is to provide security to all Benue residents, and the command under my watch in the month of July has been able to reduce crime to the barest minimum and will continue to ensure that the state is crime-free.

“Measures put in place during the period under review include planned operations in the hinterlands to raid communities of bandits, patrols within the metropolis, intelligence gathering for proactive policing, raids of black spots and stop and search operations,” he said.

 (NAN)