From Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Benue State Police Command has sustained its crackdown on cultism, arresting suspects and recovering firearms and dangerous weapons.
The Commissioner of Police, Emenari Ifeanyi, in a statement, said in a series of operations, his men arrested two suspects, Dominic Terkaa Peter and Sunday Tarvihi in Vandeikya, recovering a locally fabricated revolver pistol and a jack knife.
The commissioner, in the statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Udeme Edet, revealed that the suspects are currently in custody, while investigation is ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, in Makurdi.
Ifeanyi disclosed that in another operation, the Divisional Police Officer, Yelwata Division, acting on credible intelligence that suspected cult members were planning to attack rival cult groups and unsuspecting members of the public in Udei area of Guma Local Government Area, mobilised patrol teams in collaboration with other tactical units and moved to the area.
According to the commissioner, during the operation, one suspect identified as Mnyam Ternenge, aged 21, of Udei, Guma Local Government Area, was arrested while other suspects escaped.
Ifeanyi disclosed that the items recovered include one cutlass, one knife and hard drugs, pointing out that the suspects confessed to being a member of MBS cult group during preliminary investigation.
The statement added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, while further investigation is being handled by the State CID, Makurdi.
The commissioner reassured the people of Benue State that the command is resolute in its determination to eradicate cultism and all forms of criminality across the state.
While urging members of the public to continue to support the police with timely and credible information to enhance effective policing, Ifeanyi disclosed that further developments will be communicated as investigation progresses.
