Seven more suspects, including an 80-year-old man, have been arrested by the Benue State Police Command over the killing of the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue State chapter, Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and another victim, Yakubu Isa.
The victims were murdered on July 1 while returning from a security meeting convened by the Divisional Police Officer in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.
The latest arrests bring the total number of suspects in custody to 17, following the earlier arrest of 10 persons in connection with the incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Udeme Edet, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to her, the fresh arrests were made after sustained intelligence gathering, painstaking investigation and continuous tactical operations carried out by operatives of the command.
She identified the suspects as Chief Morgan Ejaga, 43; Chief Moses Anteyi, 45; Chief John Ogli, 58; Chief Yawuhu Adaji, 49; Sylvester Ajonye, 80; Aba Alexander Uloko, 59; and Fidelis Iduma, 45.
Edet explained that the arrests were made during intelligence-led operations as part of ongoing efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing of the MACBAN chairman and Yakubu Isa.
She said the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the investigating and tactical teams for their professionalism and dedication, noting that their sustained efforts had continued to yield positive results.
The command reiterated that investigations were still ongoing and assured residents that anyone found to have played a direct or indirect role in the killings would be identified, arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The police commissioner also urged members of the public to remain calm and continue to provide credible and timely information to security agencies to aid the investigation, while reaffirming the command’s commitment to securing justice for the victims and maintaining peace, law and order across Benue State.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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