Benue CP relocates to troubled LG, 18 suspects arrested

The Benue State Police Command has arrested 18 suspects in connection with the violent protest that rocked Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State on Wednesday.

The Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, SP Catherine Anene, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Anene said that the state Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet, had relocated to the troubled local government.

PUNCH Metro had 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 by the protesters.

Following the violent protest, the state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, declared a 24-hour curfew in the local government.

Anene in the statement explained that the troubled local government had witnessed more security operatives deployed to the area.

The statement read in parts, “It is worthy of note that Ukum is a boundary area between Benue and Taraba states which has been a turbulent area in the state.

“This turbulence increased after the death of the dreaded popular Gana and Ukum has attracted the highest deployment of security agents in the state.

“The deployment is made to curtail activities of bandits who are found in three LGAs; Ukum, Logo and Kastina-Ala collectively called Sankera axis.

“At about 0800hrs, violent protesters in hundreds began a protest obviously 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 made an attempt to invade the Ukum Police Division but were repelled by officers on guard duty.

“The Commissioner of Police,  Benue State Command, Hassan Steve Yabanet, has since moved to the area with tactical teams and heads of other security agents to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

“Eighteen suspects have been arrested and investigation is ongoing.”