Benue State Police Command has arrested seven additional suspects, including an 80-year-old man, in connection with the killing of the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Benue State, Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and one Yakubu Isa.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Makurdi.
Edet said the latest arrests followed sustained intelligence gathering, detailed investigations and coordinated tactical operations by police operatives.
According to her, the newly arrested suspects are Chief Morgan Ejaga, 43; Chief Moses Anteyi, 45; Chief John Ogli, 58; Chief Yawuhu Adaji, 49; Sylvester Ajonye, 80; Aba Alexander Uloko, 59; and Fidelis Iduma, 45.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mohammed and Isa were killed on July 1 while returning from a security meeting organised by the Divisional Police Officer in Ohimini Local Government Area.
The latest arrests come after the earlier apprehension of 10 suspects in connection with the case, bringing the total number of persons in police custody to 17.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended officers involved in the investigation for their professionalism and commitment to the case.
He assured residents that investigations were ongoing and pledged that everyone found to have played any role in the killings would be brought to justice.
The police commissioner also appealed to members of the public to remain calm and continue to provide credible information that could assist security agencies in concluding the investigation.
