by ‘Jola Sotubo

Five suspects in Benue State have been apprehended by the police on suspicion of committing a variety of crimes.

The suspected criminals include a three-man gang, the members of which are alleged to have kidnapped and raped a 15-year-old girl in Makurdi, the state capital and a two-man robbery gang, which was notorious for robbing innocent citizens and making away with their valuables.

According to a statement reportedly made by the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Daniel Ezeala, the police were “alerted by a man that his 15-year-old cousin was last Friday repeatedly raped by a four-man gang, which kidnapped her at 7:30pm.

“They abducted their victim into a red Toyota Camry and drove her to Apir, in the outskirts of Makurdi town, where they took turns to have carnal knowledge of her against her consent.”

“But, acting on the information, our men swung into action and three of the suspects were arrested while the police are still on the trail of the fourth suspect.

Ezeala added that officers of the command, who were on a stop and search duty, arrested two robbery suspects, consequent upon a robbery alarmed raised by  a victim, who was robbed and pushed out of a moving Toyota Camry car with number plate, AV 566 MKD.

He said the “duo of Emmanuel Omale and Ahmed Deedat  were arrested near the Police Secondary School in Demekpe area of Makurdi town in possession of one locally made pistols.”