NAN-H-98
Weapons
Makurdi, Nov, 7. 2016 (NAN) The Benue Police Command recovered 76 assorted weapons, 31 cars and arrested 479 suspects in 100 days, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Bashir Makama, has said.
Makama, who made the disclosure on Monday in Makurdi while briefing newsmen to mark 100 days in office, said the state now enjoys relative peace.
He said that a total of 479 suspects were arrested within the period for involvement in 93 different criminal cases.
He said that more than N2 million was recovered from criminals during operation.
He said: “seventy nine suspects were arrested for involvement in 10 armed robbery cases; 66 suspects were arrested for involvement in 15 homicide cases.
“Nineteen suspects were arrested for involvement in two kidnapping cases and 64 suspects were arrested for involvement in 21 cases of unlawful possession of firearms.
“Also, 13 suspects were arrested for involvement in 12 cases of cultism; 50 suspects were arrested for attacking two police teams and 64 suspects were arrested for involvement in two cases of disturbing public peace among others.
“We also recovered 76 assorted weapons which included nine AK 47 rifles, 43 locally made guns, nine locally made revolver pistols, two pump action guns, one English pistol, among others.”
Makama said the command also recovered 31 different brands of cars, 17 motorcycles, 22 cattle, among other items.
He said that Mr Sekar Iyortyom, the state Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, who is being investigated for alleged culpable homicide had petitioned the police high command for “unsatisfactory investigation’’ of his case.
He said that the matter was already under investigation and assured that justice would prevail at the end of the day.
The CP said that the children of Terwase Akwaza aka Gana, a notorious criminal declared wanted by the police, who were earlier taken into protective custody had been released to his family.
He added that the manhunt to arrest Gana had been intensified.
Akwaza was declared wanted for the alleged assassination of Denen Igbana Gov. Samuel Ortom security aide and involvement in cases of kidnappings, cattle rustling, armed robbery among other crimes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Iyortyom is being investigated for the alleged assassination of Joseph Tondo chairmanship aspirant in Buruku local government area. (NAN)
AEB/AEA/AEA
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Edited by Archibong Asuquo