Police arrest ‘notorious bandit’, recover weapons in Benue

The police command in Benue has arrested Kumafor Daniel, a “notorious armed bandit kingpin”.

Daniel is the second in command to Terwase Akwaza, better known as Gana, who was killed during a shoot-out with security operatives in 2020.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, Bartholomew Onyeka, the Benue commissioner of police, said officers of operation Zenda JTF trailed and arrested Daniel and four others along the Adikpo-Ugbema road, on Monday.

He said four weapons, including AK-47 rifles, two fabricated AK-47 rifles, two Berretta pistols undergoing the process of fabrication, one double barrel gun loaded with 35 live cartridges, 130 rounds of 7.62X 39mm live ammunition were recovered from them.

The commissioner warned criminals in the state to change their ways, noting that he will fight them tooth and nail as long as he remains in charge of policing the state.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of four other gang members named: Iorwuese Ashiekaa, Aondongu Aligbe, Terkula Wuhe aka Oryughurt and one Terhemba Sevav from Adikpo, Kwande LGA who specialises in fixing and manufacturing rifles for the gang,” he said.

“I want to use this opportunity to warn criminals and intending criminals that, I will not tolerate criminality in Benue state under my watch. I will fight them as long as I remain the commissioner of the police.

“I call on the good people of Benue to cooperate with the police by giving useful and timely information that will assist the command in tackling crime. A crime-free society makes room for sustainable development that can propel a state to greater heights, particularly our dear state that is endowed with so many resources.”