The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, has highlighted major operational achievements recorded by the Command in July 2026, including the arrest of suspected gun runners, cattle rustlers, armed robbery suspects, fraud syndicate members and the dismantling of illegal firearm manufacturing factories across the state.
Addressing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Makurdi on Friday, July 31, CP Nwadiogbu said the successes reflected the Command’s determination to rid Benue of criminal elements through intelligence-led policing and sustained tactical operations. He reiterated the Nigeria Police’s commitment to protecting lives and property while strengthening collaboration with communities and the media.
Among the major breakthroughs, the police arrested a suspected gunrunner identified as Joro Jakata, 20, of Awe LGA, Nasarawa State, in Guma Local Government Area (LGA). They recovered 115 rounds of live 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition. The Command also raided two illegal firearm manufacturing factories in Adikpo, Kwande LGA, arresting two suspects and recovering two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, five locally made English pistols, as well as firearm manufacturing tools.
The police commissioner also condemned the deadly attack on Efeyi Ogboju Community in Otukpo LGA, where suspected bandits rustled about 20 cattle and killed 13 residents. He disclosed that following a tactical operation launched by the Command, two suspected bandits were neutralised during a gun battle, while one AK-47 rifle and 15 rounds of live ammunition were recovered. Efforts, he added, are ongoing to arrest the fleeing attackers and recover the stolen cattle.
CP Nwadiogbu further announced the dismantling of a notorious armed robbery gang operating in Buruku Local Government Area with the arrest of six suspects and the recovery of one K2 rifle and a cutlass. The Command also recorded arrests in several homicide cases in Gwer East and Kwande Local Government Areas, apprehended cattle rustling suspects in Okpokwu and Guma, and foiled a staged kidnapping in Makurdi after detectives discovered that the alleged victim had conspired with an accomplice to extort money from her mother.
He said intelligence-led investigations also led to the arrest of a suspected member of a fraud syndicate in Kogi State, while additional operations in Ohimini and Makurdi resulted in the recovery of firearms and the arrest of suspects linked to child trafficking. According to him, the Command recovered three AK-47 rifles, one K2 rifle, six locally fabricated English pistols, one double-barrel gun, 130 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, two rounds of 9mm ammunition, three live cartridges, a knife and a machete during the period under review.
The police commissioner assured residents that the Command would sustain its offensive against criminality and urged members of the public to support security agencies with timely and credible information. He maintained that security remains a collective responsibility and pledged that the Benue State Police Command would continue to act professionally and decisively to ensure the safety of lives and property across the state.
