July 04, (THEWILL) – Benue State Police Command has arrested eighteen suspects over their involvement during the violent destruction of properties in the Ukum local Government area, in an attempt to resist security operations by criminals.
Officers of the Command on guard duty, equally repelled an attempt by bandits to invade the Ukum Police Division during the Wednesday protest, just as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the area was burnt down.
In a statement in Makurdi on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer for the command, SP Sewuese Anene, said on the 3rd of July, 2024, information was received from the Ukum Police Division that suspected bandits had attacked a village in the Ayati community of Ukum LGA, where six persons were killed.
According to the statement, Police teams were immediately deployed to prevent further attacks.
“It is worthy of note that Ukum is a boundary area between Benue and Taraba state, 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 that are found in three LGAs; Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala collectively called the Sankera axis.”
The PPRO added that 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 made an attempt to invade Ukum Police Division but were repelled by officers on guard duty.”
According to her, the Commissioner of Police, Benue state command, CP. 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, while investigation is ongoing.
In a related development, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Benue State, Professor Sam Egwu, has reported that the INEC Area office in Sankara, headquarters of Ukum Local Government Area, has been attacked and burnt down.
The incident occurred at 2 pm, on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, when the youths in the area were said to be protesting against the activities of bandits attacking facilities of government agencies, including INEC.
“Although no casualties were reported, the building has been extensively damaged. Office furniture and other movable and immovable materials, including 10 electric generators, 300 ballot boxes and 270 voting cubicles, were destroyed in the attack”.
The statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Samuel Olumekun, said the attention of security agencies has been drawn to the incident and they have already deployed their personnel to the area.
About the Author
