At least 17 people have been arrested in connection with the killings of some travellers in Gboko and some mobile policemen in different areas of Benue State.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), in charge of Operations, Joshak Habila, who paraded the suspects yesterday at the Police headquarters in Makurdi, said the feat was achieved following information from members of the public.
Habila said 11 persons were apprehended in connection with the murder and arson of seven travellers in Gboko on January 31 while six were being linked to the killing of several policemen in separate incidents in troubled vicinities of the state.
The DIG said the police had lost nine of its men in both Benue and Nasarawa states since fresh crisis began on December 31, 2017 in the states which border each other.
“I don’t want to brand those arrested as either herders or farmers. All I know is that a criminal is a criminal and there is no other name for criminality,” he said.
Habila said progress was being made to ensure absolute peace in the state, adding that, with the commencement of military exercise, there would be robust security operation for things to fall in place.
Our correspondent reports that, on the last count, five policemen had been ambushed and killed while carrying out their duties at the troubled spots in Benue State.
