Six individuals have been apprehended for their involvement in kidnapping and fraud in Benue State, according to a statement from the state’s police spokesperson, Catherine Anene, in Makurdi on Wednesday. The operation also led to the rescue of nine kidnapping victims.
Anene detailed that three of the arrested individuals were identified as kidnappers, while the other three were involved in fraudulent activities.
The kidnappers allegedly targeted passengers aboard a Benue Links vehicle, fatally shooting the driver during the incident. Anene explained, “On June 13, 2024, around 5 PM, we received reports that gunmen emerged from a nearby forest as the vehicle was transporting passengers from Onitsha to Makurdi. They opened fire, forcing the vehicle to stop. Tragically, the driver suffered gunshot wounds that led to his death, and the passengers were subsequently abducted.”
During the subsequent investigation, nine victims were rescued. On June 17, 2024, police tracked down and arrested three suspects named Saleh Hassan, Yakubu Alhaji Kande, and Yunusa Idris, all from Keana Local Government Area in Nasarawa State.
Additionally, two suspected fraudsters were detained at Kigh village along Naka Road on Monday during ongoing investigations. The suspects were identified as Philip Matthew (25), Haribu Jafai (27), and John Ode Arubi (24).
The police spokesperson reported the recovery of several items from the fraud suspects, including two iPhones, five laptops, various ATM cards, and five live 9mm ammunition.