Benue: Police arrest three suspects over robbery, cultism

The Benue State Police Command has again apprehended three suspects over alleged robbery and cultism.

The arrest comes barely four days after the command arrested four suspected cultists in Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The suspects were apprehended during a rival cult clash that claimed the lives of two members in the ancient town of Gboko.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Udeme Edet, and made available to journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday, the suspects were said to have been arrested in separate council areas of the state.

The command spokesperson said that two of the suspects were arrested on Monday in Vandeikya Local Government Area while attempting to rob their victims.

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The statement read in part:
“On the 5th of January 2026, at about 1430hrs, the Divisional Police Officer, Vandeikya Division, received credible information that some hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers were sighted within the area, allegedly in possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons.

“During the operation, two suspects, namely Dominic Terkaa Peter, male, aged 30 years, and Sunday Tarvihi, male, aged 31 years, both of Ako-Fate, Ute, Vandeikya Local Government Area, were arrested.”

Edet further stated that on the same day, a suspected cultist was also apprehended by the Divisional Police Officer, Yelwata Division, in Guma LGA of the state.

“In a related development on the same date, at about 1520hrs, the Divisional Police Officer, Yelwata Division, received actionable intelligence that suspected cult members were planning to attack rival cult groups and unsuspecting members of the public in the Udei area of Guma Local Government Area.

“During the operation, one suspect identified as Mnyam Ternenge, male, aged 21 years, of Udei, Guma Local Government Area, was arrested, while other suspects escaped,” the statement added.

The PPRO listed items recovered from the two scenes to include one cutlass, one knife, hard drugs, one locally fabricated revolver pistol, and one jackknife.

He said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspected cultist confessed to being a member of the MBS cult group.

Edet added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, noting that investigations are being handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Makurdi.

The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Emenari Ifeanyi, reassured residents that the command remains resolute in its determination to eradicate cultism and all forms of criminality across the state.

The CP urged members of the public to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information to enhance effective policing.