From Aviashima Toom, Makurdi
The Benue State Police Command at the weekend paraded 11 suspects over alleged robbery, illegal possession of firearms, rituals, kidnapping, theft and phone snatching.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Omololu Bishi, told newsmen in Makurdi, that the command apprehended four armed robbery suspects, including a dismissed police officer, with firearms, on February 22.
Bishi said the suspects had invaded the residence of former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Stephen Tsav, in a black Toyota corolla with the intention to kidnap him.
He listed the suspects, as Joseph Wagh, Terwase Igba, Felix Uuma, also known as Yellow (gang leader) and Danladi Gbanwa, also known as Danfulani.
Bishi said the suspects were apprehended, following the alarm raised by the victim and the timely response by police patrol team.
He said they were found with one AK47 rifle, loaded with one live ammunition.
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The commissioner also said two suspected ritualists, Hyginus Lubem Mbachii and Gambo Bulus, also known as Murphy of Akwanga, Nassarawa State, were arrested in Lafia, the Nassarawa State capital, for killing one Afa Amanger for ritual.
Bishi said the suspects were arrested following a petition by the deceased father, Iorubur Amanger, that one of the suspects, Hyginus Lubem Mbachii defrauded him of the sum of N206,150.
The money was meant for the admission of the son into a University in Cameroon.
The commissioner explained that during investigation, the suspects had already killed the victim for ritual purpose since January 5, and continued to collect money from the father.
He said the corpse of the deceased was recovered from the hospital where the suspects earlier abandoned it and ran away.
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Bishi also disclosed that one notorious armed robbery suspect, Emmanuel Ameh, of Ogboju town, Otukpo Local Government Area, was arrested with one pump action rifle, one locally made revolver pistol, five live cartridges and assorted charms.
The suspect allegedly hid himself in a bush near Uuwaba Aokwu election collation centre, Ugboju ready to snatch electoral materials from officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before he was arrested.
He mentioned Charles Ameh, also known as black star, Mansion and Chester all of Otukpo Local Government Area to be members of the robbery gang.
He also said the suspects had confessed to the crime.
He explained that the command also on Feb 24 apprehended one Gbaoron Tsavnande of Mbaade village in an ash coloured Toyota Corolla, with registration number HK 296 KJA, strategically positioned at Atirkyese Collation Centre with intent to disrupt electoral process and rob members of the public of their belongings.
He said the suspect was arrested with one English made G3 rifle and one locally made G3 rifle. Efforts, according to commissioner, are being made to arrest other members of the gang now at large.
The Command also apprehended two suspects who were members of a phone snatching syndicate, following a report by one Gwebe Joshua of Bem Hotel, Makurdi.
