Teenager, 26 others paraded for cultism, robbery in Benue, Bayelsa

The police in Benue and Bayelsa states have paraded 27 suspects including a teenager in connection with cult activities and armed robbery in the states. Benue State Commissioner of Police, Omololu Bishi, who paraded the suspects on Tuesday before newsmen at the police headquarters in Makurdi, vowed that the command would continue to rid the […]

The police in Benue and Bayelsa states have paraded 27 suspects including a teenager in connection with cult activities and armed robbery in the states.

Benue State Commissioner of Police, Omololu Bishi, who paraded the suspects on Tuesday before newsmen at the police headquarters in Makurdi, vowed that the command would continue to rid the state of criminal elements.

Nine of the 15 suspects in Benue: John Oche, Inalegwu Onyilokwu, Vincent Demetrus, Owoicho Emmanuel, Adukwu David, Oche Ejila Elaigwu, Wisdom Nwefuru and Onogwu Otache all male of different addresses within Otukpo town and Joshua Okoro of Yaikyo village in Makurdi are being held for cultism and armed robbery.

The other six suspects – Kumater Orduen, Terhemen Dev, Terna Surshima Atama, Terdoo Abata and Felix Iorgube all male of different addresses in Mbagen of Buruku Local Government Area as well as Destiny Gbatima of Kanshio in Makurdi, were alleged to be in the habit of blocking major roads in their localities and robbing motorists.

Bishi said 12 arms, five live cartridges, two expended cartridges and 11 ammunitions were recovered from the suspects.

He stressed that a Barrette Pistol recovered from one of the suspects would be thoroughly investigated because that make was only allocated to the police or military.

He added that the robbers, particularly Felix Iorgube, who had been charged to court twice for robbery within six months would be properly investigated on how he cheaply regained freedom to reorganise his gang of robbers to terrorise the Buruku axis of the state.

In an interview with newsmen, Iorgube said he continued to engage in robbery because there were always needs to be satisfied same way people would never have enough of all they ever wanted.

In Bayelsa State, the Police Commissioner, Mr Sholla David, said on March 20, operatives on surveillance at Swali, Yenagoa, arrested a notorious cultist, one Precious Egbo, 17, in possession of one locally made pistol and one cartridge, adding that the suspect confessed to be a member of a cult group and volunteered useful information for more investigation.

He said the 14 others included one of the two kidnappers that abducted an eight-year-old daughter of one Mrs Amara Diekedie.

The CP called for support of members of the public to enable the police combat crime in the state.