September 4, (THEWILL) – Benue State Police Command, acting on credible intelligence gathered about an armed robbery syndicate operating around Kighir, Kanshio and Adeke communities, deployed officers from Operation Zenda JTF and stormed their hideouts to effect the arrest.
However, on sighting the police, it was gathered that the group engaged the personnel in an exchange of fire, during which one of the suspected robbers sustained gunshot injuries and was rushed to the Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sewuese Anene, who confirmed this in a statement in Makurdi on Monday, said one of the robbers was receiving treatment, but eventually died and his body deposited at the hospital morgue.
The PPRO listed other gang members arrested including Tersoo Godwin Akatakpo, aka ‘General’, Gowon Akatakpo, Ikya Chahul Atseriyol and Terver Iortimbee.
According to the statement, some of the suspects confessed to being members of the Junior Vikings confraternity (JVC), as well as armed robbers.
She listed items recovered from the suspects as 1 single barrel gun, 2 locally made pistols, 5 live cartridges, 4 expanded empty shells of cartridges, 2 Dane guns, 1 red beret with JVC logo and 3 handsets suspected to be stolen.
The PPRO said the suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as the investigation is completed.
