Wednesday, January 7, 2026 - The Benue State Police Command has taken into custody three individuals over alleged involvement in robbery and cult-related activities, barely days after four suspected cultists were arrested in Gboko Local Government Area following a violent confrontation that reportedly claimed the lives of two persons.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday by
the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, and made available to journalists.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, two of the
suspects were apprehended on Monday in Vandeikya Local Government Area while
allegedly attempting to dispossess residents of their belongings.
“On the 5th of January 2026 at about 1430hrs, the Divisional
Police Officer, Vandeikya Division, received credible information that some
hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers were sighted within the area, allegedly
in possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons,” the statement read.
The police explained that a swift response led to the arrest
of the suspects during an operation in the area.
“During the operation, two suspects, namely, Dominic Terkaa
Peter, 30, and Sunday Tarvihi, 31, both of Ako-Fate, Ute, Vandeikya Local
Government Area, were arrested.”
DSP Edet further disclosed that a separate operation on the
same day led to the arrest of a suspected cultist in Guma Local Government
Area.
“In a related development at about 1520hrs, the Divisional
Police Officer, Yelwata Division, received actionable intelligence that
suspected cult members were planning to attack rival groups and unsuspecting
members of the public in Udei area of Guma LGA,” the statement said.
The police noted that one suspect was apprehended during the
operation, while others fled the scene.
“During the operation, Mnyam Ternenge, 21, of Udei, Guma
Local Government Area, was arrested, while other suspects managed to escape,”
the statement added.
Items recovered from the suspects include a cutlass, a
knife, hard drugs, a locally made revolver pistol and a jack knife.
Preliminary findings, according to the police, indicated
that the arrested cult suspect confessed to being a member of the MBS cult
group.
DSP Edet stated that investigations have been transferred to
the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Makurdi, while efforts are
ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Emenari
Ifeanyi, reassured residents of the Command’s resolve to stamp out cultism and
other criminal activities across the state.
He also appealed to members of the public to continue to
support the police with prompt and reliable information to enhance security
operations.
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