Police Repel Bandit Attack, Arrest Child Trafficker, Rescue 11 Victims in Benue
The Benue State Police Command has recorded two major breakthroughs within 48 hours, successfully foiling a bandit attack on a community and arresting a suspected child trafficker while rescuing eleven victims.
On Sunday, operatives repelled an attempted assault on Ukohol community in the Yelewata axis of Guma Local Government Area. Security sources said the attack was likely a reprisal after the arrest of one of the gang’s members the previous day. Acting swiftly on intelligence, the Divisional Police Officer in Daudu led a combined force of the newly established Special Intervention Squad (SIS), Police Mobile Force (PMF), Operation Zenda, and the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) to confront the assailants.
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The bandits engaged the operatives in a fierce gun battle but were overpowered and forced to retreat into the bush. All community youths initially trapped by the attackers were rescued unharmed, though one person was reported missing as of Sunday evening. A search-and-rescue operation is underway to track the fleeing suspects and locate the missing individual.
In a separate development, police arrested a suspected child trafficker in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area and rescued eleven children. The suspect, identified as Priscilia Mhiive Terhemen of Mbachir, Katsina-Ala, was accused of trafficking the children to Benin City, Edo State.
With assistance from Benue indigenes living in Edo, the victims were traced, rescued, and safely returned to Katsina-Ala. They have been profiled and handed over to authorities. The rescued children are: Iwuese Terkimbi (5), Sulma Terhemen (7), Sechiur Orsuyi (8), Sunday Mlumum (20), Nguveren Sunday (15), Doose Mwaave (12), Ternenge Wuave (11), Mnena Terhemen (16), Aondonengen Terkimbir (12), Nensha Terhemen (10), and Saakuma Terhemen (13).
The suspect is in custody while the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) conducts further investigations.
Though the Command has not yet issued an official statement, security sources confirmed that operations are ongoing. The developments underscore both the complexity of Benue’s security challenges and the police’s determination to confront them.
By PRNigeria
