THE Benue State Police Command has arrested 18 suspects in connection with the violent protest at the Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of the state on Wednesday, June 3.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, July 4.
According to her, the state Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet, has moved to the troubled LGA to stop the protest occasioned by bandits attack on a the community in the LGA.
The command explained that it had deployed more security operatives to the area.
The police said Ukum is a boundary area between Benue and Taraba states, adding that the area is notorious for crisis.
Anene added that the crisis grew after the death of the dreaded Gana and the area has the highest deployment of security agents in the state.
“The deployment is made to curtail activities of bandits that are found in three LGAs; Ukum, Logo, and Kastina-Ala collectively called Sankera axis.
“At about 0800hrs, violent protesters in hundreds began a protest sponsored by criminals to unleash mayhem on the people and destabilise the security network that has prevented them from operating freely in the area, especially with recent successful operations that dislodged several bandit camps in the last two months.
“During this violent protest, personal and government properties were destroyed. These hoodlums also attempted to invade the Ukum Police Division but were repelled by officers on guard duty.
The ICIR reported that some youths had protested the killing of people in Ayati village by local bandits resulting in the destruction of personal and government properties including the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the LGA by the protesters.
Following the protest, the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, declared a 24-hour curfew in the LGA.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the state, Sam Egwu, informed the INEC headquarters in Abuja of the attack on its office during the protest.
According to a statement by INEC on Wednesday, signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, the incident happened when the youths in the area said to be protesting against the activities of bandits attacked government facilities, including INEC.
The protest and curfew followed the Tuesday, July 2, attack on Ayati community in Borikyo Council Ward of the LGA by suspected armed bandits. The attack claimed about 11 lives and left others with severe injuries.
The attack resulted in protests by the youths of the area who took over and made bonfires on the Sankera – Ayati-Sai road.
A reporter with the ICIR
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