Police arrest 14 suspects in Benue State killings

Benue State Police Command yesterday said it has arrested over 14 suspects linked to last Friday’s assassination of elder statesman and Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP chieftain in the state, Chief Atoza Ihindan at his farm in Katsina- Ala town of Benue state.

State Police Public Relations’ Officer, ASP Austin Ezeani in a statement to The Guardian yesterday said one of those apprehended is suspected of being the one who fired the shot that killed Chief Atoza, a woman and her baby in Katsina-Ala local government area of the State.

Ezeani said that the suspect was arrested with bullet wounds on his leg, adding that an AK47 gun loaded with 128 rounds of live ammunition was also found on him.

“Those arrested are assisting the police with useful information in unraveling the perpetrators of these dastardly acts for prosecution. We are also mopping up arms from those who are not embracing the amnesty program of the State governor,” Ezeani explained.

It would be noted that barely less than 24 hours after the late Atoza Ihindan was assassinated on that day, the same gang was said to had killed a couple in Katsina- Ala on the following day. This heinous development has in no small measure instilled fears among the populace of the state.