From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Benue State Police Command has arrested 32 suspected cultists and gunrunners in the state.
The police made the disclosure in a statement by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Steve Yabanet, yesterday in Makurdi.
Yabanet said that on November 14, the C Division of of the command,received information that a corpse of a young man was seen around the North Bank axis of the town.
The CP stated that the police deployed detectives to the scene, and investigation later revealed that he died during a rival cult clash.
The CP said that between November 17 and 18,a joint operational team of the police, the Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) working on intelligence raided their hideouts.
According to him, 18 suspected cultists were arrested at the Avis Hotel and other areas in Northbank.
He said that suspects were arrested with some illicit drugs in their possession.
Yabanet further said that on November 19, another joint operation was carried out by the operatives of Cyber Crime, Eagle Eye, and Anti-Cult of the Command and arrested another 14 suspected cultists.
He added that two locally made pistols, three live cartridges, one gun, three ATM cards, charms, a shisha smoke pot, one laptop, and one graven image were found with them.
Other items found in possession of the suspects, included:leaves suspected to be marijuana, six mobile phones, and the sum of ₦23,670.00.
He said that the suspects would soon be charged to court.