Benue Police smash criminal hideout, rescue six children in separate operations

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Benue State Police Command has uncovered a major criminal hideout in Makurdi and separately rescued six children from suspected traffickers along the Orokam-Enugu Road, following two coordinated operations in the state.

In a statement issued Friday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent, DSP, Udeme Edet, said officers acted on a distress call at about 6:30pm Thursday and tracked a stolen Bajaj motorcycle to a compound along George Akume Way in Makurdi.

According to the statement, police patrol teams arrived to find a large crowd gathered at the scene. Upon gaining access to the compound, “officers discovered 11 suspected stolen motorcycles, 47 motorcycle seats, fuel tanks, three mattresses, criminal charms, a single-barrel firearm, and other incriminating items.”

However, the situation took a tragic turn when two suspects fled the scene but were intercepted and lynched by members of the public near the BIPC office before the police could intervene.

DSP Edet noted that the suspects were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Wadata, where they were confirmed dead by a doctor and later deposited in the mortuary. “The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has taken over the matter.”

In a separate operation earlier the same day, police operatives on patrol along the Orokam-Enugu Road intercepted a suspicious vehicle around 5:05pm. Inside were three women namely, Mrs. Monica Okonkwo, Nkiru Nwosu, and Oyechele Francisca all from Umude Oka Dunukofia in Anambra State.

The suspects were found transporting six children, identified as eight years old Amanda Chukwujekwu, Chioma Maduagwu, also eight years, Oyechegi Kosisochukwu, nine years old, Okonkwo Odinaka Chukwu, nine years, Arinze Chukwu, seven years and nine years old Esther Oluchukwu.

According to her, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the children were taken from Divine Peace and Grace Orphanage in Jos, Plateau State, under questionable circumstances. The suspects claimed they were transporting the children to Anambra State.”

DSP Edet said the children had been placed under protective care, while the women had been detained as the State CID continues investigations.

The statement noted that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ifeanyi Emenari condemned the mob action that led to the deaths of the two suspects in the Makurdi incident describing it as a dangerous and unlawful act.

“Mob action obstructs justice, violates fundamental human rights, and sabotages police investigations,” the Commissioner warned.

He urged the public to always report suspected criminals and hand them over to law enforcement agencies instead of taking the law into their own hands.

Mr. Emenari reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, assuring that updates on the ongoing investigations would be communicated to the public.

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