by Azeez Adeniyi

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 18 suspects linked to the killings in Zaki Biam in Benue State.

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris disclosed this on Wednesday at the monthly IG conference with senior police officers at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

He said the police also recovered arms and ammunition from the residence of a notorious kingpin, Terwaze Awkaza popularly known as Gana.

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He said Terwaze surrendered old weapons in the guise that he was accepting the amnesty declared for hoodlums by the Benue State government.

Idris said, “Gana deceived the public by accepting amnesty and surrendered a few old guns, but he kept dangerous weapons in his bunker. With the arms he had, you would think he wants to attack a whole country.

“I commend the state governor who admitted that they made a mistake by granting him amnesty. Now, we have 18 suspects in custody and we are on the trail of Gana who had been declared wanted.”

He added that the special forces deployed to Kaduna have also arrested some suspects in connection to clashes between Fulani herdsmen and indigenes.

He advised state Commissioners of Police to liaise with state governments for land for the construction of affordable housing estates for the rank and file.

The IG decorated 11 Commissioners of Police and an Assistant Commissioner of Police with their new ranks.

Azeez