Police in Benue State have declared that 188 persons are currently facing prosecution over the anti-open grazing law in the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, also said that another 61 armed bandits associated with killings are currently facing trial.
Owoseni who addressed Journalists on Tuesday in Makurdi over its activities in the last one month further explained that aside of herdsmen’s attacks, there were other noticeable crimes such as robbery, communal clashes, and cultism across the state.
The police boss said that 30 suspects were arrested in connection with cult-related activities within the last one month.
He said that there were rising cases of communal clashes in Konshisha, Apa and Agatu Local Government Areas of the state with a cache of arms with youths.
He added that over 100 thatched houses were set ablaze last week during a communal clash between Ugamba and Mbamar villages in Konshisha Local Government Area of the state.
The commissioner said that nineteen people have been arrested in connection with the communal clash in Konshisha.
In the case of armed robbery, Owoseni said that fourteen (14) suspects were arrested in the last one month with thirteen (13) different types of prohibited firearms comprise of four AK47 riffles, 23 locally made riffles were recovered from them.
He added that the locally made riffles manufactured in the state were fabricated in such a way that they use AK47 ammunitions.
“Aside of the herdsmen attacks, there are noticeable crimes within the state, for instance, there are rising cases of cultism, communal clash and robbery.
“In Sankara axis, 17 armed robbery suspects were arrested, armed robbery and abduction in this axis are attributed to Terwase Akwaza popularly known as ‘Gana’ who has been dominating crime in the area.”
