FIC Report (Benue State) – The Benue State Police Command has recorded significant successes in its ongoing fight against crime, arresting 10 suspects linked to human trafficking, armed robbery, rape, cultism, illegal possession of firearms, and other criminal offences across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Makurdi on Friday, 26 June 2026.
Among the major achievements was the arrest of a suspected human trafficker accused of luring two sisters from Naka to Ghana with false promises of employment before allegedly forcing them into prostitution.
The Command also rescued two abandoned newborn babies in Vandeikya Local Government Area and arrested the suspected mother in connection with the incident.
In Ogbadibo Local Government Area, police operatives, working alongside tactical teams and local vigilantes, rescued eight kidnapped victims unharmed after engaging the abductors in a gun battle. The fleeing suspects abandoned a locally made firearm and military camouflage during the operation.
Other intelligence-led operations resulted in the arrest of several armed robbery suspects, including a notorious suspect on the Police watch list. Officers also recovered multiple locally fabricated firearms, ammunition, charms, and other dangerous weapons.
The Police further uncovered a staged kidnapping in which a man allegedly conspired with accomplices to fake his own abduction and extort over one million naira from his parents.
In a separate development, two suspects were arrested for the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl, while three suspected bandits were neutralised during a gun battle with security operatives in Ukum Local Government Area. An AK-47 rifle, live ammunition, and a motorcycle were recovered from the scene.
Summarising the Command’s achievements during the period under review, the Commissioner of Police stated that officers arrested 10 suspects, rescued eight kidnapped victims, neutralised three armed bandits, and recovered 17 firearms as well as 36 rounds of ammunition.
CP Nwadiogbu reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Benue State. He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing credible and timely information to assist security agencies in combating crime.
VERONICA AZEMBA
For: Head of Centre
Federal Information Centre, Makurdi
