Four suspected armed robbers were apprehend Saturday in Kogi State by the military operatives of the command Army Record (CAR) Lokoja. , They were arrested while operating in military uniform.
Two suspected armed robbers/Kidnappers that have been terrorizing passengers on Lokoja – Okene road were also paraded by the Kogi state police command.
Some of the suspects who claimed to have served as plitical ‘machineries’ from Benue State were said to have engaged soldiers of the (CAR) in a shootout, along the Felele axis, sustained gunshots in the encounter.
The Commander, CAR, Maj.-Gen. Felix Agugo, bemoaned the menace of criminals who have formed the habit of adorning themselves in military fatigue to perpetrate heinous crimes.
The self-confessed leader of the gang, Joseph Musa, who claimed to have crossed over into Kogi from neighbouring Benue State, said members of the gang “work as mercenaries”, while also engaging in other criminal activities, at other times.
Another member of the gang, Japhet Atehi, who said he’s Tiv, claimed to have newly joined the gang, owing to ‘lack of work”.
Others included Asen, Saviour Dennis and Terfa, who is currently at large.
Items recovered from the suspects included Pump Actions, two AK47 and several rounds of life ammunition.
Governor Yahaya Bello who was present when they were paraded, enjoined the people of the state to partner with government in ridding Kogi of criminal elements.
He commended the Army for their untiring efforts at fighting criminality, both in the state and other parts of the country.
His words: “The task of fighting criminality is not for Mr. President alone. I call on my colleague governors, local government administrators, the chiefs, community leaders, to join hands with Mr. President, to bring criminality down.
“Here in Kogi, we are spending a lot of efforts and resources in fighting criminality despite our meagre resources. We are spending a lot to secure life and property, and I expect my colleague governors who have boundaries with us to do the same’.
In a related development , the state police command paraded two suspected kidnap for ransom gang members; Haruna Saleh aka Auta of Fulani Camp, Obajana and Dulla Dankali of Fulani Camp, Gada Biyu.
Speaking during the parading of the suspects the Police Public Relation officer, (PPRO) William Ayah said “Following recent attacks on motorists along the Okene-Lokoja road by some suspected criminal elements which led to the killing of a luxury bus driver, anti-robbery squad led by DSP Babagana Bukar, trailed and arrested some of the suspects.
“Investigation is in progress. They will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation”,
