The police on Tuesday paraded persons accused of supplying arms to
armed persons who have been attacking communities in Benue and Taraba
States. In a statement on Tuesday evening, police spokesperson, Jimoh
Moshood, listed the names of the suspects and arms recovered from them.
His statement below:
“The renewed strategies adopted by the Nigeria Police Force to stop
the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians and curtail the
proliferation of firearms across the country, most especially in the
North-Central States have been yielding positive results. The IGP
Intelligence Response Team and the Police Special Forces mandated by the
IGP to work with Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba State Commands, in the last
two weeks arrested the Eleven (11) suspects mentioned above within
Benue and Taraba States and recovered from them were Ten (10) AK47
Rifles and other assorted firearms and ammunition.
“In the first two cases, the suspects confessed to have been
responsible for the supply of AK47 rifles and other firearms and
ammunition to armed bandits, militias, and criminal herdsmen/farmers in
Benue and Taraba States.
“The first suspect, Morris Ashwe 36yrs Native of Mbajima Village
Katsina Ala LGA Benue State confessed and admitted to have been
supplying firearms and ammunition to the notorious and most wanted
vicious and notorious gang leader of militia, murderers and kidnappers
Terwase Akwaza aka Ghana who was declared wanted by the Nigeria Police
Force for the merciless killings of several innocent persons and wanton
destruction of properties worth Millions of Naira, at ZakiBiam in Benue
State on 20th March, 2017 and for other violent crimes such as Culpable
Homicide, Mischief by Fire and Criminal Conspiracy and the killing of
Mr. Deneen Igbana (late) the Special Adviser on Security to the Governor
of Benue State.
“In the second case, all the three (3) suspects namely Kabiru Idris,
Miracle Emmanuel and Husseini Safiyanu were arrested inTaraba State and
in their possession Five (5) AK47 rifles, Thirteen (13) AK47 Magazines,
Eighty Three (83) Rounds of AK47 Ammunition were recovered. They
confessed to have been supplying AK47 rifles and other firearms and
ammunition to Militia groups, armed bandits and other criminals in
Taraba andBenue States who they admitted have been attacking and killing
innocent people in villages in Taraba and Benue States.
“The third case involving Seven (7) suspected kidnappers. These
suspected kidnappers were arrested in the act of movement to kidnap a
prominent person in Makurdi Benue State. The arrest was made possible
from intelligence gathered by the IGP Intelligence Response Team. Two
(2) Beretta Pistols were recovered from them. They confessed to have
been responsible for several kidnappings in Benue, Taraba and Some part
ofNasarawa State in the recent past.
“Investigation is being strengthened to arrest other suspects at
large. All suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of
investigation.
“The deployment of additional fifteen (15) Police mobile Force units
to augment the strength of the Benue State Police Command has beefed-up
security in the State and help in sustaining the peace that have been
restored to the state.
“The Force hereby wishes to assure the people of Benue and other
contiguous state of its commitment to sustain the peaces that have been
restored in those states.
Suspects
“Morris Ashwe, 36 years, native of Mbajima Village Katsina AlaLGA
Benue State (Working for Terwase Akwaza aka Ghana). Recovered from him
were, five AK47 Rifles, Two Hundred and Thirty Eight (238) Rounds of
AK47 Ammunition, Forty (40) Smoke Grenade Canisters, Seventy Nine (79)
LAR Rifle Ammunition
2nd case: illegal firearms dealers
Kabiru Idris 43 years – Principal Suspect – Arrested in Takum Town,
Taraba State, Miracle Emmanuel – Principal Suspect and Gang Leader 27yrs
Native of Anambra State, Husseini Safiyanu Native of Taraba State –
Principal Suspect
Recovered from them were: Five (5) AK47 Rifles, Thirteen (13) AK47 Magazines, Eighty Three (83) Rounds of AK47 Ammunition
3rd case – kidnappers/armed robbers
Emmanuel Ushehemba Kwembe 28yrs Native of Ushongo LGABenue state,
Sekad Uver 28yrs Native of Koshisha LGA Benue State,
Ordure Fada 22yrs Native of Kwande LGA Benue State,
Stephen Jirgba 18yrs Native of Vande kya LGA Benue State
Peter Lorham 24yrs Native of Kinshisha LGA Benue State
Achir Gabriel 30yrs Native of Ushongo LGA Benue State,
Lorhemen Akwambe 35yrs Native of Guma LGA Benue State.