In Benue, police nab 18 over violent protest

Eighteen protesters have been apprehended by police in connection with the violent protest that broke out in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State on Wednesday.

SP Catherine Anene, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, revealed in a statement released to the press in Makurdi on Thursday.

Anene revealed that Commissioner of Police Hassan Yabanet has been dispatched to the troubled local government area to take charge of the situation.

Recall that some youths had protested the killing of people in Ayati village by local bandits resulting in the destruction of personal and government properties by the protesters.

Amidst the violent protest, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, the state governor, declared a 24-hour curfew in the local government.

Anene, in the statement, explained that the troubled local government had witnessed more security operatives deployed to the area.

The statement read in part, “It is worthy of note that Ukum is a boundary area between Benue and Taraba state which has been a turbulent area in the state.

” This turbulence increased after the death of the dreaded popular Gana and Ukum has attracted the highest deployment of security agents in the state.

“The deployment is made to curtail activities of bandits that are found in three LGAs; Ukum, Logo, and Kastina-Ala collectively called Sankera axis.

“At about 0800hrs, violent protesters in hundreds began a protest sponsored by criminals to unleash mayhem on the people and destabilize the security network that has prevented them from operating freely in the area, especially with recent successful operations that dislodged several bandit camps in the last two months.

“During this violent protest, personal and government properties were destroyed. These hoodlums also attempted to invade the Ukum Police Division but were repelled by officers on guard duty.

“The Commissioner of Police, Benue state command, CP. Hassan Steve Yabanet has since moved to the area with tactical teams and heads of other security agents to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

“Eighteen suspects have been arrested and the investigation is ongoing.”