By: Zagazola Makama
Police operatives in Benue have arrested a suspected notorious armed bandit believed to be responsible for multiple attacks on security personnel in the state.
Zagazola gathered that the suspect, identified as Yongu Justine Makwagh of Kadarko in Nasarawa State, was arrested on Friday at about 8:00 p.m. at Balcony Park in Makurdi following months of sustained surveillance.
It was gathered that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Daudu led the operation after acting on credible intelligence, with reinforcement from operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on special duty.
Sources said Makwagh has been on the command’s wanted list due to his alleged involvement in several deadly attacks in the Sankera axis.
“The suspect was earlier linked to the killing of two Safer Highway Police personnel at Yelwata and two operatives of the Department of Operations (DOPS) in Daudu, during which firearms were carted away,” the source said.
The arrest is considered a major breakthrough for the command, which has intensified efforts to dismantle bandit networks operating across Benue and neighbouring states.
Police authorities said the suspect is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation, while further investigations are ongoing to recover additional arms and track his accomplices
