Petrol pipeline vandals, cultists, traffickers, others arrested in Benue

The Benue State Police Command has said it is collaborating with other security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and properties.

Benue State Commissioner of Police, Steve H. Yabanet, said this while parading suspects arrested across the state.

The Commissioner said collaboration with residents has also helped in arresting suspects.

He said Wadata community members have been collaborating with the Police to fight cultism within the area, and that has brought cult activities to a bearable minimum.

He said on February 9, 2025, the Command got information about renewed cult activities in the area where members of Black Confraternity went for a cult meeting across the River Benue and clashed with members of the Red Confraternity.

The CP said that three corpses were recovered at the scene while 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the case.

Those arrested were Simon Mande, Moses Tarlumun, Jamilu Idris, Seleki Joseph, Ahmed Dayabu, Muazu Usman, Akor Ada, Terfa Wergba, Almustapha Abubakar and Usman Gambo, all males living in Wadata area.

He said an investigation is ongoing to arrest other suspects. He advised parents, teachers, and other stakeholders to warn their children/ wards against such unlawful associations.

Also, following a report of a missing child in Northbank Makurdi, information was disseminated to members of the public for useful information about the child’s location.

On February 9, 2025, Area E Division, Makurdi was informed that one Obadiah Samaila of Kizito Junction Agyragu, Doduguru, Nasarawa State was seen around George Akume way Makurdi with a boy that he could not give satisfactory account of the boy’s origin.

The CP said that the suspect was arrested and brought to the Police station, where he confessed to kidnapping the child from his house in Northbank for trafficking.

The Command also paraded Idris Garba, Mohammed Usman, Ibrahim Mohammed and Rafa Muazu, all male of Lafia, Nasarawa State and Sunday Demekaa of Gwer-East Local Council Area with a Nissan truck loaded with iron pipelines suspected to be stolen on February 6, 2025 at about 3:00 pm while Police officers from Naka Division were on patrol along Makurdi-Naka road.

They were intercepted and arrested as the suspects could not give satisfactory account of how they got the items.

The CP said investigation revealed that petroleum pipelines were vandalized around Gwer Local Council Area and taken to an unknown destination.

He said an investigation is ongoing to identify other suspects connected with the case.