Three suspects, including a vigilante head linked to the recent attack on Anwule community in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, where several people, including a pastor, were killed, have been arrested.
Our correspondent reports that at least four people were killed in separate incidents by suspected armed invaders in Anwule village, Oglewu District of Ohimini LGA on November 4 while they were working in their farms.
Witnesses, however, said that on Sunday, members of a vigilante group, in conjunction with the police, arrested the three men in connection with the incident.
The suspects, identified as Isah Peter and Moses Peter – both natives of Agatu LGA – and a Fulani herdsman, were apprehended after weeks of investigation.
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Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Melvin James, on Monday, confirmed in a telephone conversation with our correspondent in Makurdi that he read about the arrest of the trio on social media, acknowledging that two of the suspects were indigenes of his locality.
“I can confirm that two persons (of the three suspects) are from Eguma and Igila communities in Agatu. However, I make bold to state that no community in Agatu has weapons. Agatu depends on the security provided by soldiers and the police.
“No community in Agatu sent them. It only confirms my position that there are bad eggs within the communities. The police should thoroughly investigate them because they must have accomplices. That’s my position,” the Agatu chairman said.
Chairman of Ohimini LGA, Adole Gabriel, also confirmed the arrests made so far to our correspondent in a telephone interview on Monday, saying that all the arrests were made by local vigilantes.
Adole added that in the past 24 hours, the Operation Whirl Strike (OPWS) has also made more arrests of suspects terrorising his vicinity.
“Altogether, four different arrests have been made in the past 24 hours. The suspects have been taken into police custody in Makurdi,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Udeme Edet, had yet to respond to calls and messages sent to her phone for confirmation of the arrests as of press time.
