Benue killings: Police arrests mole, recover AK-47 rifle

One suspected mole has been arrested by operatives of Benue State Police Command at Ayilamo, Logo Local Government Area of the state over attack on Police personnel that led to the killing of an officer.

Parading the suspect alongside five other suspects in Makurdi on Tuesday, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said one of the attackers was also killed in the operation.

Police Owoseni said: “After the attack at Azege in Ayilamo, where one of our personnel was found brutally slaughtered with his two eyes, ears and nose removed and another missing, we embarked on recovery and rescue operation and restoration of security in the area.

“In the course of the operation, the attackers engaged the Police in a shootout; one of the attackers died in that operation and the AK-47 rifle with which they have been attacking the Police was recovered, while one other suspect was arrested.

“Our preliminary investigation from the person that was arrested goes to affirm what we have been saying that if the wall is not cracked a lizard will not find an entry.

“What we are getting from the suspect, he is a resident of that community, who at one time or the other had been selling out operations of security agencies to militants and the security agencies.

“The investigation is still ongoing and we have got words from him that is of evidential value.

“As we round up our investigation, we hope that it will lead us to more arrests and he will be properly arraigned with other suspects that we might arrest in the course of this operation.

“We still want to appeal to the people of the state, that we cannot overcome all these challenges without the cooperation of the people, who should avail us credible information and also identify moles within the communities that bring in the criminal elements.”