Police kill 3 suspected armed robbers in Benue operations

The Police Command in Benue State has killed three suspected armed robbers during a series of operations carried out across the state within one week.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Udeme, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that the command also recovered an AK-47 rifle, two locally fabricated guns and dozens of live ammunition during the operations.

Udeme said the successes were recorded between June 6 and June 12, 2026, through intelligence-led policing, proactive patrols and joint security operations aimed at tackling armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping and cultism in the state.

She stated that the biggest breakthrough came along the Vaase-Chito Road in Ukum Local Government Area, where operatives of Gbeji Division, working with members of the Community Volunteer Guards, engaged suspected armed bandits in a fierce gun battle. Three of the suspects were killed during the exchange, while others escaped on motorcycles with gunshot wounds and are being tracked.

Other operations in the same period led to the arrest of several suspects linked to kidnapping, armed robbery and cult activities in Makurdi, Guma, Logo, Gwer West and Guma Local Government Areas. Police recovered additional firearms, ammunition and operational vehicles suspected to have been used in various crimes across the state.

The Commissioner of Police, who commended the officers for their gallantry, reiterated the command’s commitment to sustaining the tempo of intelligence-driven operations. He urged residents to continue to provide credible and timely information that could assist the police in identifying criminal elements within their communities.

Udeme said the command had also strengthened its presence along major highways and markets in the state to deter armed robbery and other violent crimes. She warned criminal elements to either renounce their activities or face the full weight of the law.

The command’s public relations officer urged anyone with information on criminal activity to contact the nearest police station or use the dedicated hotlines of the command.

Sources: Daily Trust