…’Religious Bandits Fueling Crisis’, Alia Insists

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The Benue State Police Command said it has arrested 42 local armed bandits and herders across some communities in the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the State, Ifeanyi Emenari, who disclosed this during his maiden media briefing held at the police officer mess Makurdi explained that those arrested were suspected to have been involved in the incessant killings going on in the state.

He pointed out that the armed Fulani herdsmen and bandits will face full trial.

According to Police Commissioner Emenari, most of the suspects were arrested upon his assumption of duty in the last one month.

He maintained that the command had taken the fight to those responsible for the attacks and killings in Benue communities, stressing that tactical teams have already been drafted to flashpoints across communities in the state.

“I was posted to Benue State on the 24/04/2025 and assumed duty on the 26 April 2025. Upon assumption of duty, I step up strategic plans to tackle insecurity in the state.

“I visited crisis areas such as Ankpali in Apa, Naka in Gwer West, Ayilamo in Logo, Amafu in Katsina-Ala, Ukum, Agatu, Udei, Yogbo in Guma Local Government Areas, and many others. I had discovered that farmlands have no farmers. Therefore, we have deployed our tactical teams to the areas and are now combing the communities in search of the killers.

“We have a mandate to ensure that these communities are safe for the people to go back to their homes and engage in farming activities.

“And in the last one month we have arrested 42 armed herdsmen and local bandits from these communities. Most of them have been charged to court.

“We also have about 10 herdsmen who have been remanded by the courts in the course of their trial.

“Apart from those already charged to court, there are others who are still being investigated and they would be charged to court at the end of investigations.”

“The command also recovered two AK47 rifles and 21 locally made firearms from the suspects. We had taken the fight to cult gangs in the state “that is why we have not witnessed or recorded cult related attacks in the state in the last one month since I assumed office.

The kidnap incidents that happen regularly along Makurdi – Lafia federal highway have reduced drastically as we have arrested those perpetrating the acts and are currently in jail.

“We have designed a plan to respond to any distress call within 30mns depending on the locations within the state”, Emenari added.

The CP assured that the command would ensure that peace and security is restored to every nook and cranny of the state.

He appealed to Benue people particularly in the rural communities and urban centres to cooperate with the police in its task of ensuring the security of lives and property in the state.

He commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his support to the Command, maintaining that his desire to ensure peace and security in the state would be achieved.

“The entire governor wanted to make sure farmers go back to their farms and people are provided with adequate security to enable them to go on with their lawful business. We are ready to achieve that with the governor support”, he said

Similarly, the Benue State Governor, Fr. Hyacinth Alia has reiterated that some politicians and “Religious bandits” are responsible for the needless crisis and aiding the killings of innocent people in the State.

The Governor stated this while addressing the  Pro-Tinibu group who staged  a rally at the Government House Roundabout Makurdi, the state capital as part of the activities marking this year’s June 12 Democracy Day celebration.

According to the Governor, “The Religious Bandits are the ones fuelling the insecurity situation being experiencing in the state.

“They are doing this through their consistent rhetoric of unverified comments and distortion of facts.

“There are some religious leaders I call ‘religious bandits’ who are fueling the bad situation we are experiencing here. And how do they support that, by their rhetoric. If you do not have the facts about Benue and Nigeria, shut up. Don’t just say something because you have the holy altar and oil to speak. Speak what you know and what can be verified.

“There are some leaders who are fanning the embers of discord that peace should not return to the State.

“We are still faced with insecurity as our people are killed unprovoked. We will take out this total menace and carnage of killings. We will not rest on our oars to ensure that total peace returns to Benue especially in the 6 LGAs that are in the frontline of insecurity.

“Am confident that with the support of the President, we are going to get rid of insecurity completely in the State. Some traditional and religious leaders are also marching and fighting with us for peace to return to the State. Our people are suffering a lot and for some of us we have taken an oath to defend them and bring back peace”.

“The day calls for sober reflection of how far the state and nation has journeyed in 26 years of uninterrupted democratic government, adding “We must pay tribute to the heroes who fought for democracy and sacrificed their lives for the unity of the country

“Those heroes some are with us, others have gone to be with the Lord. They went through a lot including imprisonment, sacrificing for the unity of our country. It is not yet over for us. As we celebrate this day, people of conscience should note that what unites us is greater than what divides us. So, we must think positively for the State and the nation. We should have faith and hope for the nation.

“Let us have a change of attitude and a different way of thinking. Let us sacrifice for the state and nation some more. Bring solutions to us and stop putting kerosene on fire. Let us know that Nigeria is our country and we can’t have another one.

“Let us be our brother’s keeper. To the youths, a new Benue is possible and you are the new Benue. Let us do our best to ensure that Benue State is for prosperity and is secured. I am with the masses because they are with the people”, he stated.

An Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded a 50-year-old man, Linus Anozie, in a correctional center for allegedly engaging in anal intercourse with an 18-year-old physically challenged person.

Anozie, whose address was not provided, is standing trial on a one-count charge of sexual assault.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr B.

He remanded him in a correctional facility and ordered that the file be sent to the office of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

Sonuga adjourned the case until July 31, pending legal advice.

Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on June 9 at about 11.

He told the court that the defendant unlawfully had anal intercourse with an 18-year-old physically challenged man (name withheld), without his consent.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravene the provisions of Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)

 The Police Command in Rivers has announced the arrest of three suspected cultists allegedly involved in the murder of a senior police officer in the state.

Bako Angbashim, former Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada Division, was captured and beheaded by suspected cultist in September 2023, prompting a statewide manhunt for the perpetrators.

SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson of the Command, disclosed on Tuesday in Port Harcourt that the arrests followed credible intelligence on the suspects’ whereabouts.

“Following actionable intelligence, operatives from the Octopus Tactical Unit successfully apprehended one of the murder suspects, known simply as K1.

“K1 is identified as a member of the Iceland cult group, formerly led by the late 2Baba, which has been linked to the killing of the late DPO, Bako Angbashim,” she said.

Iringe-Koko stated that during interrogation, K1 disclosed the identities of other accomplices, leading to the arrest of two additional suspects.

She explained that the officers subsequently tracked and arrested LoveGod Goodluck in Ikata Community, Ahoada East area, and Precious Olumini, who previously escaped from custody.

She added that the operatives recovered a locally made single-barrel gun and two cartridges from Goodluck, while an English-made pump-action rifle and a locally made pistol were seized from Olumini.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of the Iceland cult group, which has been responsible for a series of violent crimes in the Ahoada-East axis of the state,” Iringe-Koko added.

She confirmed that investigation was ongoing and assured that the suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion.

She said that police were intensifying manhunt for the other fleeing members of the syndicate, with the goal of recovering additional weapons and ensuring they were brought to justice.

According to Iringe-Koko, the arrests represent a significant breakthrough in the command’s ongoing efforts to combat cultism and violent crimes across the state. (NAN)