The Benue State Police Command has arrested 34 foreign nationals, rescued 29 kidnapped victims and apprehended 14 suspects during security operations across the state in October.
The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Makurdi, saying the operations targeted kidnapping, cultism, illegal possession of firearms and other crimes.
According to him, 16 Cameroonian nationals were arrested in Otukpo Local Government Area on October 9, while 18 Nigerien nationals were intercepted at Orokam on October 22. The police said investigations were ongoing to establish their immigration status and the circumstances of their entry into Nigeria, with the Nigeria Immigration Service expected to be involved.
Nwadiogbu said the 29 kidnap victims were rescued through joint operations involving the police, other security agencies and local vigilantes.
The victims included four passengers abducted after gunmen attacked a commercial vehicle along the Uzer axis of Ayilamo–Tse-Abi Road in Logo LGA on October 5, killing the driver. Another 17 farmers were rescued from Tse-Acha and Tse-Wuam communities in the same local government area on October 7.
In Ohimini LGA, eight victims, including a Catholic priest, were rescued following an abduction along the Ugbokolo–Ajegbe–Awume Road on October 13. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the incident, and the victims were taken to hospital for medical attention.
The police commissioner added that operatives recovered seven locally made firearms and 16 rounds of ammunition and cartridges during the operations. One suspected bandit was also killed in an encounter with security operatives along Amaafu–Abaji Road in Katsina-Ala LGA on October 2.
He said investigations were continuing into other alleged crimes, including child abuse, a fatal attack in Makurdi and the alleged defilement of a 10-year-old girl in Ado LGA.
Nwadiogbu urged residents to provide credible information to security agencies, assuring them that intelligence-led operations and collaboration with other security agencies would continue.
