Police kill two bandits in Benue

Policemen in Benue, on Sunday, killed two suspected bandits in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement on Monday, the state Police Command Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, said men of Operation Zenda invaded the hideout of the bandits located at Tse Uza, Mbatyula Council Ward in Katsina-Ala LGA.

She said, “Upon arrival at the camp, bandits engaged the police in a gun duel to resist invasion into their camp but were overpowered by the superior firepower of the police team.

“Two of the bandits received gunshot injuries, they have been confirmed dead by a doctor and corpses deposited at General Hospital, Ukum, while other suspects escaped.

Anene listed the exhibits recovered from the camps to include; two Pistols loaded with ammunition, three (3) locally made short guns, thirteen (13) motorcycles, camouflage uniforms, six (6) walkie-talkies, one (1) Toyota Corolla and one (1) tricycle.

The Command spokesperson said that the command had intensified efforts to clamp down on bandits in the Sankera axis of the state in the last three months.

She added that several operations carried out in the axis had led to the arrest of suspects who have been charged to court while others were neutralized in the course of the exchange of firearms and ammunition that have been recovered and many camps dislodged.

Anene said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Hassan Yabanet commanded the bravery exhibited by the officers and, at the same time, enjoined the people of Sankera to make available useful information to the police about suspects at large who may be seen with gunshot injuries.

The Sankera axis, which comprises Logo, Katsina-Ala and Ukum local government areas, is the flashpoint of criminality in the state.