By Amos Aar
BENUE State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police (SP) Sewuese Anene, has said that the command has intensified efforts to clampdown on bandits in Sankera axis of the state in the last three months.
Sankera, a bloc of the Tiv-speaking area of Benue State, comprising Katsina-Ala, UKum and Logo local government areas, has been suffering from banditry for almost ten years now.
SP Anene, in a statement on Monday, said several operations carried out led to the arrest of suspects that have been charged to court while others were neutralised in the course of exchange of fire, adding that arms and ammunition have been recovered and many camps dislodged.
She said the police dislodged a criminal hideout in Katsina-Ala on Sunday, killing two of the bandits and recovering arms, ammunition and vehicles.
“As part of follow up operations, the Operation Zenda JTF invaded a criminal hideout at Tse Uza, Mbatyula Council Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area on 30/06/2024. Upon arrival at the camp, bandits engaged the police in a gun duel to resist invasion into their camp but were over powered by the superior fire power of the police team. Two of the bandits received gunshot injuries, they have been confirmed dead by a doctor and corpses deposited at General Hospital, Ukum while other suspects escaped.
“Exhibits recovered from the camps include; two pistols loaded with ammunition, three (3) locally made short guns, thirteen (13) motorcycles, camouflage uniforms, six (6) walkie-talkies, one (1) Toyota Corolla and one (1) tricycle”.
The statement quoted the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Hassan Steve Yabanet, to have commended the bravery exhibited by his men and enjoined the people of Sankera to avail useful information to the police about suspects at large who may be seen with gunshot injuries.
