The Benue State Police Command said it arrested ten (10) suspects at the Wadata area of Makurdi, the State capital for allegedly killing three members of a rival cult group during their meeting.
Police operatives also arrested eight other suspects for their alleged involvement in various criminal activities.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Catherine Anene said at about 1530hrs on the February 9, 2025, the command received information about renewed cult activities in Wadata area where members of ‘Black Confraternity’ went for a cult meeting across the River Benue and clashed with members of the ‘Red confraternity’.
Anene added that three (3) corpses were recovered at the scene, while ten (10) suspects were arrested in connection with the killings during investigation.
She gave the names of the suspects as Simon Mande, Moses Tarlumun, Jamilu Idris, Seleki Joseph, Ahmed Dayabu, Muazu Usman, Akor Ada, Terfa Wergba, Almustapha Abubakar and Usman Gambo; all male of Wadata area.
The police spokesperson added that investigation is ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects.
Same day, Anene said the Command received information at the ‘E’ Division Makurdi that one Obadiah Samaila ‘M’ of Kizito Junction Agyragu, Doduguru, Nasarawa State was seen around George Akume Way, Makurdi with a boy that he could not give satisfactory account of his origin.
The suspect was immediately arrested and brought to the Police station where he confessed that he stole the child from his house in North-Bank for trafficking
Similarly, on the February 6 at about 1500hrs while police officers from Naka Division were on patrol along Makurdi-Naka Road, they arrested one Idris Garba, Mohammed Usman, Ibrahim Mohammed and Rafa Muazu, all males from Lafia, Nasarawa State alongside one Sunday Demekaa, male, from Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue State with a Nissan truck loaded with iron pipelines suspected to be stolen.
The police spokesperson said all the suspects could not give satisfactory account of how they got the items, adding that investigation revealed that the items were vandalised petroleum pipelines around Gwer-East local government area.
In another development, the PPRO said on February 7 at about 0830hrs, information was received about a robbery gang operating around Yogbo village in Guma local government area.
“Investigators at Daudu Division conducted a raid in the area and arrested one Yakubu Kantoma ‘m’ 32yrs and Abu Ishaku ‘m’ 25yrs both of Sekereke, Yogbo village.”
She said the suspect was identified by one of their victims as investigation is ongoing.
The PPRO said the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Steve Yabanet called on parents, caregivers, teachers and other stakeholders to watch their children keenly on the kind of friends they keep and as well warn them against unlawful associations and the danger of engaging in criminality.