The Benue State Police Command has shared details of several successful operations aimed at curbing criminal activity throughout the state. Commissioner of Police Cletus Nwadiogbu announced the rescue of eight kidnapped individuals, the elimination of three armed bandits, and the arrest of 10 people for crimes including human trafficking, robbery, and sexual assault.
During a press briefing in Makurdi, Nwadiogbu emphasized the need for police transparency and community cooperation. One major success involved a rescue mission in the Adupi area of Orokam, where police tactical teams and local vigilantes saved eight people from kidnappers without the payment of any ransom. During a separate operation near the Vaase-Chito Road in Ukum LGA, officers engaged and neutralised three bandits, some of whom wore military camouflage. The police seized an AK-47, ammunition, and a motorcycle at the scene.
The Command also addressed a trafficking case involving 40-year-old Ashide Nyityon, who allegedly transported women to Ghana for prostitution. Furthermore, police identified a staged kidnapping case where a man named Onyebuchi Nwankwo faked his own abduction to extort money from his parents. Additional arrests were made regarding child abandonment, armed robbery, and the rape of a minor in Otukpa.
In total, the recent crackdown resulted in the recovery of 17 firearms, 36 rounds of ammunition, and other illicit items. Nwadiogbu reiterated that the police would continue to act firmly against criminal elements and urged citizens to keep reporting suspicious activities to maintain community safety.