Police have confirmed the profiling of seven Pakistani nationals intercepted at an Otukpo hotel in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu say though they hold valid travel documents and claim to be conducting a market survey for an electronics business, the State CID is verifying their backgrounds.
Meanwhile, investigations into the killing of Professor Gabriel Saawua Nyityo and his younger brother have progressed, with more suspected members of the gang arrested.
CP Nwadiogbu, revealed that investigations into the July 8 attack at Adaka community have now expanded to track down an entire criminal syndicate.
A major breakthrough in the high-profile double homicide case, which CP Nwadiaogbu says was a calculated assassination, not a robbery.
He revealed that the breakthrough began just four hours after the attack as the 23-year-old principal suspect, was intercepted at an NDLEA checkpoint in Lafia, neighbouring Nasarawa State.
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In a bid to evade the police dragnet,the suspect had been dismounting from commercial motorcycles before every security post, walking across on foot, and re-boarding.
But his luck ran out. Security operatives, already on high alert, searched him and recovered a phone linking him directly to the crime scene.
Intelligence agencies in Nasarawa State, including the DSS, have since arrested more gang members.
The briefing highlighted a massive sweep against crime across Benue State between June and July, netting dozens of suspects:
In Ohimini LGA, 10 suspects were arrested over the reprisal killing of two Fulani leaders.
While in Katsina-Ala, Logo and Makurdi LGAs, armed robbers and kidnappers were neutralised in fierce gun battles. Four AK-47 rifles, six pistols, and ammunition recovered.
In Gboko LGA, 12 suspected cultists were arrested during an annual gang gathering while in Ukum LGA, one woman was arrested for arson attack that tragically killed two children.
The Benue Police Command is reiterating its call for residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies, emphasising that timely intelligence remains their strongest weapon against cross-border criminality.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
