Killings: Police arrest 18 over Benue violent protest

The police in Benue State have arrested 18 suspects over the violent protest in Ukum Local Government Area of the state.

Daily Trust reported that the violent protest followed the killings of at least 11 people on Wednesday morning by armed outlaws whose activities continued to plague the Sankera axis comprising three local government areas of Ukum, Kastina-Ala and Logo.

Governor Hyacinth Alia had on Wednesday imposed a 24-hour curfew to quell the protest.

A statement on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, indicated that many properties belonging to the government and individuals were destroyed after the protest turned violent and protesters resisted security intervention.

“Eighteen suspects have been arrested and investigation is ongoing,” she said.

Anene further explained that, “On 3/7/2024 information was received from Ukum Police Division that suspected bandits had attacked a village in Ayati community of Ukum LGA where six persons were killed. Police teams were immediately deployed to prevent further attacks.

“It is worthy of note that Ukum is a boundary area between Benue and Taraba state which has been a turbulent area in the state. This turbulence increased after the death of the dreaded popular Gana and Ukum has attracted the highest deployment of security agents in the state. The deployment is made to curtail activities of bandits that are found in three LGAs; Ukum, Logo and Kastina-Ala collectively called Sankera axis.

“At about 0800hrs, violent protesters in hundreds began a protest obviously sponsored by criminals to unleash mayhem on the people and destabilise security network that has prevented them from operating freely in the area especially with recent successful operations that dislodged several bandit camps in the last two months.

“During this violent protest, personal and government properties were destroyed. These hoodlums also made an attempt to invade Ukum Police Division but were repelled by officers on guard duty.

“The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP. Hassan Steve Yabanet FCID, psc (+) has since moved to the area with tactical teams and heads of other security agents to forestall further breakdown of law and order.”