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From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The Benue State Police Command said it has arrested four suspects, including two brothers, Tersoo Godwin Akatakpo and Gowon Akatakpo, for armed robbery and cultism in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Benue State, Batholomew Onyeka, made the disclosure in a statement signed by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, and made available to newsmen in Makurdi, yesterday.
The commissioner said the suspects were the ones operating and terrorising residents around Kighir, Kanshio and Adeke communities of Makurdi. He explained that they were arrested when officers from Operation Zenda JTF stormed their hideouts for a raid, following credible intelligence gathered about an armed robbery syndicate operating around Kighir, Kanshio and Adeke communities of Makurdi.
He explained: “On sighting the police, the group engaged the police in an exchange of fire. In the process, one of the armed robbers sustained gunshot injuries and was rushed to the Teaching Hospital Makurdi, where he was receiving treatment, but eventually died and has been deposited at the hospital morgue.
“Other gang members arrested include: Tersoo Godwin Akatakpo aka “General”; Gowon Akatakpo; Ikya Chahul Atseriyol, and Terver Iortimdee. Suspects confessed that they are members of Junior Vikings Confraternity (JVC) as well as armed robbers.“
Items recovered from the suspects include one single barrel gun, two locally made pistols, five live cartridges, four expanded empty shells of cartridges, two dane guns, one red beret with JVC logo and three handsets suspected to be stolen from victims.
The commissioner said the suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as the investigation is completed.
