THE Benue State Police Command has arrested and paraded three suspected armed robbers who killed a National Youth Service Corps member, Irene Chioma Emmanuel.
The command also paraded 12 other suspects for various crimes ranging from kidnapping, robbery, and gun manufacturing.
According to Benue State Commissioner of Police (CP), Emmanuel Adesina, who briefed reporters on Wednesday, February 28, while parading the suspects, the corps member was slain while attempting to shield her laptop from being forcefully taken away by the suspects.
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The CP said the suspects admitted to taking part in the robbery and murder of the corps member, whom they killed while attempting to steal her laptop.
Adesina added that three other suspected bandits killed and buried one Aornen Kpor, a member of the Benue State Volunteer Guard, in a shallow grave after kidnapping him.
He explained that on January 24, reports surfaced of armed bandits who were thought to be led by one Chen and another named Iorpuu Ayangeer who blocked the Tse-Kperse, Naindo-Zaki-Biam road.
“They abducted one Aornen Kpor of Benue State Volunteer Guard, who was travelling the route to an unknown destination.
“During the investigation, one Vanen Mnyim and Adera Terseer both of Ngenev, Ukum Local Government Area, were arrested in connection with the case.
“These suspects confessed to the crime and led the police team to a bush at Adogo village, where the victim was killed and buried in a shallow grave. The corpse has been exhumed and deposited at the hospital for autopsy and proper burial while an investigation is ongoing,” the CP stated.
Precious Ebuka Chukwu, Tyav Wuese, and Tyav Terkuma, blacksmiths in Adikpo, Kwande LGA, who specialise in gun production, were among the other suspects that the command paraded.
The CP urged the state’s residents to constantly provide the police with useful information that could result in the arrest of criminals. He said all the accused would soon face charges.
Confirming the suspects’ arrest to The ICIR in a chat on Wednesday, the command’s spokesperson, Anene Sewuese Catherine, said Emmanuel’s killers had been apprehended.
“The CP disclosed this today. The suspects are in our custody. They will be charged to court soon,” she stated.
The ICIR reported on Thursday, February 22, that the Benue State government, in an attempt to reduce insecurity, issued a two-week quit notice to herders engaging in open grazing in the state.
The state government also ordered all armed herders to leave the state through a resolution by its Security Council.
A reporter with the ICIR
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