Benue State Police Command has arrested 35 suspected criminals who are terrorising the state for the past three months and recovered several arms and ammunition.
The state commissioner of police, Hassan Yabanet, who disclosed this to journalists while conducting them round the suspects who were paraded at the police headquarters in Makurdi informed that the police have also busted a fraud academy and operation of Internet fraudster School in Makurdi, at Jerome Hwande Street, Akpa-Quarters, Makurdi.
He said the items recovered from them included seven Hp laptops, one Apple Note, one Canon printer, 15 notes of Ghana cedis, two international passports, assorted clothes among other items.
The suspects confessed to the crimes, adding that most of their victims are foreigners and they have students that are usually trained in the fraud business.
He said, “On the 14/05/2024 at about 1900hrs information was gathered about fraudsters lodging in a hotel along Kashim Ibrahim Road, Makurdi, the team of policemen from Cybercrime Section swung into action and raided the hotel where eight suspects were arrested in a room.”
The CP however warned Landlords and hoteliers to be mindful of the kind of people they accommodate as they are also at risk of becoming victims and can be prosecuted for criminal conspiracy.
“On the 06/05/2024 at about 1400hrs while some motorcyclists were plying Makurdi- Naka road, a group of armed men blocked the highway and robbed them of their motorcycle, they also kidnapped one other victim and collected two million naira from the family before victim was released. In the course of the kidnap, one of the victims raised an alarm that led to the arrest of one suspect Mohammed Ibrahim,” he said.
While calling on the good people of the state to cooperate with the police by giving them useful and timely information, the CP appreciated other security agencies for their synergy and cooperation.
He said all the suspects arrested will soon be charged to court after investigation is complicated.
