The Benue State Police Command has rescued 29 kidnapped victims and arrested 34 foreign nationals during security operations across the state in October.
The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting the command’s operational report to journalists at the police headquarters in Makurdi.
Nwadiogbu attributed the successes to intelligence-driven operations and cooperation among security agencies, community security groups and local hunters.
He said four passengers abducted by gunmen who attacked a commercial vehicle along the Uzer village axis of Ayilamo-Tse-Abi Road in Logo Local Government Area were rescued on October 5.
According to him, the rescue operation involved the police, Operation Whirl Stroke, Benue State Civil Protection Guards and local hunters.
The police commissioner further disclosed that 17 farmers abducted from Tse-Acha and Tse-Wuam communities in Bamun village, Tombo District, Logo LGA, were rescued on October 7.
He added that eight other victims, including a Catholic priest, regained their freedom following their abduction along Ugbokolo-Ajegbe-Awume Road in Ohimini Local Government Area on October 13.
The development followed an earlier police announcement confirming the rescue of eight victims and the arrest of two suspects in connection with the incident.
Nwadiogbu also revealed that the command arrested 34 foreign nationals in two separate operations during the month under review.
He said 16 Cameroonian nationals were apprehended in Otukpo Local Government Area on October 9 after they allegedly failed to present the necessary travel documents.
In another operation on October 22, police operatives intercepted 18 Nigerien nationals at Orokam while they were reportedly travelling to Ikom in Cross River State.
The commissioner explained that the suspects were taken into custody for investigation and verification of their immigration status.
He said the Nigeria Immigration Service and other relevant authorities would be involved in the process to determine the circumstances surrounding their entry into the country and movements within Nigeria.
Nwadiogbu added that investigations into the cases were still ongoing.
The police chief also disclosed that security operatives arrested several suspects in separate operations targeting suspected cultists and other alleged offenders in Naka, Makurdi, Aliade and Gwer East.
Items recovered during the operations included seven locally made firearms, 16 rounds of ammunition and cartridges, charms, mobile phones and ATM cards.
He further reported that a suspected bandit was killed during a gun battle involving Operation Zenda operatives along Amaafu-Abaji Road in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area on October 2.
A locally fabricated firearm was recovered following the encounter.
He urged residents to provide security agencies with credible information that could assist in tackling criminal activities across the state.
Nwadiogbu stressed that public cooperation remained crucial to preventing crime and safeguarding lives and property.