By Terdue Atondu, Makurdi
The Benue State Police Command has rescued 29 kidnapped victims, arrested 34 foreign nationals over suspected clandestine activities and recovered several firearms in a series of security operations across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Cletus C. N. Nwadiogbu, disclosed this on Tuesday at the command headquarters in Makurdi while briefing journalists on security breakthroughs recorded during the period under review.
Nwadiogbu said the achievements resulted from intelligence-led operations, prompt responses to distress calls and collaboration between the police, other security agencies and community-based security groups.
According to him, one of the operations followed an attack on a commercial vehicle along the Uzer Village axis of Ayilamo–Tse-Abi Road in Logo Local Government Area on October 5, 2026, during which the driver was killed and four passengers abducted.
He said police operatives, working with troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, the Benue State Civil Protection Guards and local hunters, subsequently launched a search-and-rescue operation that led to the rescue of all four passengers.
In a related operation on October 7, 17 farmers were rescued from Tse-Acha and Tse-Wuam communities in Bamun Village, Tombo District, also in Logo LGA.
The operation involved personnel of Operation Zenda Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, the Civil Protection Guards and local vigilantes.
The police commissioner said the interventions were aimed at protecting rural communities and enabling residents to carry out their lawful activities without fear of attacks.
He also disclosed that eight kidnapped victims were rescued and two suspects arrested following an abduction incident along the Ugbokolo–Ajegbe–Awume Road, near Ipiga Village in Ohimini LGA.
According to him, the incident occurred on October 13 when a Reverend Father and other persons returning from the market were reportedly abducted.
He said two victims were rescu
ed on October 16, while six others were recovered on October 18 following sustained operations involving police personnel, the Police Mobile Force and the Civil Protection Guards.
The rescued victims were taken to the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, for medical examinations and necessary treatment, while the two arrested suspects remained under investigation.
Nwadiogbu said the operations demonstrated the importance of timely responses, intelligence sharing and cooperation among security agencies and community-based security structures.
Police Arrest 34 Cameroonian, Nigerien Nationals
The commissioner also disclosed that the command arrested 34 foreign nationals in separate operations over concerns surrounding their travel documentation and movements within the country.
He said 16 Cameroonian nationals were arrested in Otukpo LGA on October 9 after they allegedly failed to produce the required travel documents.
According to him, the suspects were taken into custody for investigation and verification of their immigration status, with the police examining suspicions of involvement in clandestine activities.
Similarly, 18 Nigerien nationals were intercepted by police operatives at Orokam on October 22 while reportedly travelling to Ikom in Cross River State.
Nwadiogbu said the individuals were transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation after concerns were raised about their circumstances of entry into Nigeria and their inability to provide satisfactory explanations regarding their journey.
He added that the command was working to establish the relevant facts and engage the Nigeria Immigration Service and other appropriate authorities for profiling and further action in accordance with the law.
The commissioner stressed that investigations into both cases were ongoing and that any further action would be guided by the findings and applicable legal procedures.
Police Recover Firearms, Arrest Suspected Cultists
The command also recorded several arrests and recovered locally fabricated firearms in operations targeting cultism, unlawful possession of weapons, threats and other criminal activities.
Nwadiogbu said two suspects were arrested on September 25 along Aondona–Naka Road in Naka, Gwer West LGA, with a locally fabricated revolver pistol, two expended rounds of ammunition, a mobile phone and suspected criminal charms recovered.
On September 26, two other suspects were arrested by operatives of the ‘D’ Division in Makurdi following information that some individuals were allegedly brandishing a firearm during a youth meeting. One pistol was recovered.
Similarly, operatives of the Aliade Division arrested a suspect on September 30 and recovered two locally fabricated pistols, ammunition and suspected criminal charms.
In another operation, three suspects were arrested by operatives of Katsina-Ala Division on October 22 following a complaint involving alleged threats and destruction of a fence arising from a land dispute. Items recovered included two locally fabricated pistols, four live cartridges, one live 9mm ammunition, an axe, suspected criminal charms, suspected illicit substances, mobile phones, ATM cards and items bearing cult-related inscriptions.
The recovered items included a banner bearing the inscription, “De Norsemen Kclub International.”
The commissioner said investigations were ongoing to establish the individual roles of the suspects and determine whether they were connected to other criminal activities.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to combating cultism, illegal possession of firearms and violence, while urging residents to resolve disputes through lawful means and report threats or suspicious activities to the police.
Suspected Bandit Killed in Katsina-Ala Encounter
The police commissioner further disclosed that a suspected bandit was neutralised during an encounter following an attack on personnel of Operation Zenda Joint Task Force along Amaafu–Abaji Road in Katsina-Ala LGA on October 2.
He said a locally fabricated firearm was recovered during the encounter, while other suspected members of the group reportedly fled.
No security personnel were reported killed or injured in the incident.
Police Investigate Child Abuse, Homicide Cases
The command also reported ongoing investigations into alleged child abuse, homicide, sexual offences and other violent crimes across the state.
Nwadiogbu said a report was received at Jato-Aka Division on October 5 concerning an incident in Injorov Village, Turan, Kwande LGA, in which two children were allegedly subjected to severe physical abuse over an allegation involving ₦14,500.
He said one of the children died, while the other survived.
A suspect, identified as Hemen Wuese, was arrested, while the body of the deceased was deposited for autopsy. The surviving child was rescued and reported to be in stable condition.
The commissioner said investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
In another case, a resident was reportedly attacked by suspected cultists along Maiduguri Street, Wadata, Makurdi, on October 14.
Police investigations led to the arrest of three suspects, while the victim was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Apir, for treatment but later died.
The suspects remained in custody as investigators worked to establish their individual roles in the incident.
60-Year-Old Arrested over Alleged Defilement
The command also disclosed the arrest of a 60-year-old man over an alleged defilement case involving a 10-year-old girl in Igumale, Ado LGA.
Nwadiogbu said the case was reported on October 13, following which the suspect was arrested and the victim taken for medical examination and necessary treatment.
He assured that investigations would be conducted in accordance with the law, with due attention to the privacy and welfare of the child.
The commissioner urged members of the public to report cases of violence, abuse and other criminal conduct promptly to enable the police to intervene and prevent further harm.
Police Seek Public Cooperation
Nwadiogbu attributed the operational successes recorded during the period to intelligence-led policing, sustained patrols, prompt responses to distress calls and collaboration with other security agencies and community stakeholders.
He emphasised that public cooperation remained essential to effective crime prevention, noting that credible information from residents could help security agencies identify threats, locate suspects, rescue victims and prevent further criminal activities.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for his support and commitment to strengthening policing operations nationwide.
He also thanked the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, for supporting the command’s efforts to maintain peace and security in the state.
Nwadiogbu further acknowledged the contributions of other security agencies, community leaders, local vigilantes and residents, whose cooperation, he said, continued to support efforts to maintain law and order across Benue State.
