The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the death of Saater Aii of Wannune, Tarka Local Council, following a gun battle with police operatives in Makurdi.

The spokesperson of the Benue Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, disclosed this yesterday in a statement issued in Makurdi.

According to the command, the suspect was wanted for the alleged assassination of the Tarka Local Council Hunters’ Commander, Mr Aondoakaa Yayol, who was killed on June 20, and his wife, Mrs Kashimana Yayol, who was killed on February 11, 2023.

The police spokesperson said both incidents occurred in Wannune, the headquarters of Tarka Local Council, and the suspect went into hiding afterwards.

She explained that on October 18, 2025, credible intelligence revealed that the suspect had clandestinely returned to Makurdi with plans to carry out further attacks.

“Acting swiftly on this information, a team of detectives was deployed to apprehend him around George Akume Way, Makurdi. Upon sighting the operatives, the suspect opened fire on them. The police responded appropriately and succeeded in subduing and arresting him. During the encounter, the suspect sustained gunshot injuries and was immediately taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) for treatment, where he was later confirmed dead. His corpse has since been deposited at the hospital mortuary,” she said.

The command said the police recovered from him one AK-47 rifle, one locally fabricated short gun, several 7.62 mm live ammunition cartridges and seven SIM cards suspected to have been stolen.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ifeanyi Emenari, advised residents to desist from criminal activities and to promptly report any suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police station or any other security agency within their vicinity.