A disabled man identified as Sylvanus Ukpan, who has been allegedly coordinating criminal activities including the supplying of charms and locally-made bullet proof vests to criminals in Benue state and environs, has been apprehended by the police in Katsina-Ala Local Government of the state while acting on an information.
During his confessions, the 35-year-old suspect said the charms were not meant for criminals. According to him, “The charm was given to me by a friend for protection against the people attacking our community, but my father asked me to return it that it was devilish. I was about to do that when the police arrested me.”
Speaking while he paraded the suspect before newsmen at the Police Command Headquarters in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, said the suspect was nabbed by a special anti-crime squad, code-named Operation Zenda.
The CP who was represented by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mose Yamu, said the suspect, who was in company of another, was heading towards Wukari in Taraba State when they were arrested.
He said: “He was caught yesterday night with charms and seven locally-made bullet proof vests, which was meant to be supplied to a yet to be disclosed gang.
“We have already established that they were coming from Otukwuunya in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, when they were nabbed at Ayua, between Katsina-Ala and Wukari.
“We are still investigating the matter, but we strongly believe that he could have been arming criminal gang within that axis with charms and in this particular instance they might be heading to Gbishe.
“Our investigations also revealed that each of the vest is worth over N250, 000. But investigation into the matter is still ongoing,” he added.
