From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Benue State Community Volunteer Guard, (BSCVG), last Friday, apprehended a 25-year-old Jeremiah Gbogo, in possession of a locally made beretta pistol at a wake in Fiidi Council Ward in Makurdi Local Government Area of the state.
The arrest was made barely 24 hours after the Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, led a campaign rally across major streets and flash points of Makurdi metropolis against cult-related activities, violence and marching ground; forceful extortion of developers and shop owners.
The suspects, who claimed to be a farmer and footballer, were arrested by operatives of the community volunteers guard after he pulled the trigger of the pistol he collected from his brother’s friend and shot into the air amidst other colleagues suspected to be cultists.
Confirming the arrest to newsmen in Makurdi, the Commander of Benue State Volunteer Guard, Capt Ayuma Ajobi (retd), described the situation as unfortunate, saying in spite of the sensitisation campaign against social vices and other violent crimes, Gbogo decided to make himself the first culprit.
Capt. Ayuma said the forceful collection of money by touts, cultism and other violent crimes has been stopped since after the campaign, and that any person found in the act would be dealt with by the security agencies.
While commending the security adviser, Joseph Har, who led members of the volunteer guards, livestock guards, the vigilance group of Nigeria and Hunters Association of Nigeria on the campaign, the commander said, “these are the internal security apparatus and we are charged with the mandate of getting first information and working in synergy with the conventional security.
“All the internal security apparatus have swung into action in every nook and crannies of the Benue communities and the state capital, and that is what led to the arrest of this suspect bearing the locally fabricated pistol.
“We don’t expect you to know us, but we know the bad guys; while others flee, we will fish them out and he will be handed to the police soon after investigation.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, maintained that the arrest of the suspect by the Community Volunteer Guard was a testament that the Benue State government led by Governor Hyacinth Alia is committed to fight all forms of crime affecting the peace and development of the state.
Har, who noted that despite the campaign message for youths to shun all forms of crime, which has continued to drive away prospective developers and investors in the state, the young man refused to heed the call and the current administration will not entertain violence as it is committed to entrenching development.
While he maintained that the state community volunteers guard do not have the mandate to prosecute, the security adviser said the suspect, who was apprehended in the midst of his gang members who fled during the arrest, have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further investigation and prosecution.
He further appealed to the judiciary to act positively to ensure that suspects brought before them are prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
When interviewed, the suspect expressed regret over his action and asked for pardon just as he appealed to other youths in the state to desist from cultism and other violent acts. The special adviser also disclosed that two other suspects who killed their victim were also arrested at Benue Links motor park, while attempting to flee Makurdi town.
While noting that the suspects have also been handed over to the police, Har said it took the intervention of several security agencies, the Benue community volunteer guard, OPWS, police, to rescue the victims from mob action.