The Benue State Police Command on Tuesday disclosed the arrests of suspected armed robbers and a cultist in separate operations across the state.
Spokesperson for the Command, DSP Udeme Edet, said police operatives recovered a locally fabricated firearm and other dangerous weapons during the operations.
DSP Edet noted that the arrests were made on Monday January 5, 2026, as part of the Command’s sustained crackdown on cultism and other violent crimes.
She said that at about 2:30pm, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Vandeikya Division acted on credible intelligence that hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers were sighted in the area, allegedly in possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons.
“Operatives and detectives were immediately deployed to the scene.;Two suspects – Dominic Terkaa Peter, 30, and Sunday Tarvihi, 31, both of Ako-Fate, Ute, Vandeikya Local Government Area – were arrested during the operation. A search conducted on them led to the recovery of one locally fabricated revolver pistol and a jack knife,” she said.
According to her, the suspects are currently in police custody, while investigations have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Makurdi.
In a related development later the same day at about 3:20pm, she said the DPO of Yelwata Division received actionable intelligence that suspected cult members were planning to attack rival groups and unsuspecting members of the public in Udei, Guma Local Government Area.
Edet added that police operatives, in collaboration with other tactical units, were promptly mobilised to the area, leading to the arrest of one suspect identified as Mnyam Ternenge, 21, of Udei.
She said other suspects reportedly escaped during the operation.
“Items recovered from the suspect included a cutlass, a knife and hard drugs. Police said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect confessed to being a member of the MBS cult group.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, while further investigation is being handled by the State CID, Makurdi,” Edet stated.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Emenari Ifeanyi, reassured residents of the Command’s resolve to eradicate cultism and all forms of criminality in the state.
He urged members of the public to continue to support the police with timely and credible information to enhance effective policing.
The police spokesperson said further developments would be communicated as investigations progress.
