In a determined effort to combat rising insecurity in Plateau State, the Nigeria Police Force has arrested 859 individuals in connection with various criminal activities, including armed robbery, kidnapping, and cultism, over the course of 2024.
This was revealed by the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, during a press briefing in Jos on Friday, where he also paraded 27 recently apprehended suspects.
Highlighting the police’s achievements, Adesina shared, “A brief breakdown of our crime statistics for the year shows that 794 cases were reported, leading to 859 arrests. Of these, 415 cases were charged to court. We successfully rescued 46 kidnap victims and recovered 27 arms along with 115 rounds of ammunition.”
Among the suspects paraded were individuals allegedly linked to cultism and armed robbery. One of the highlighted cases involved the arrest of 24-year-old Emmanuel Atu, who was apprehended during a routine patrol in the Agingi area of Bassa Local Government Area. Upon searching the suspect, officers recovered a loaded revolver pistol. During interrogation, Atu confessed to being a member of the Eiye Black Axe Confraternity.
Further demonstrating the command’s vigilance, Adesina narrated how police operatives in Langtang North Local Government Area dismantled a gang of suspected armed robbers.
Acting on intelligence, a team arrested four individuals in possession of an AK-47 rifle loaded with 13 rounds of live ammunition.
The suspects, identified as Lohkur Ponfa, Monday Seljum, Nansak Ndam, and Nanbut Napdong, admitted to participating in multiple armed robbery operations, including one in August where they targeted a local resident, Chuku Emeka.
In a separate incident, the commissioner detailed the investigation into the murder of a 40-year-old miner, Rabiu Abdullahim, whose decomposing body was discovered at Hwol Zagam mining stream.
Abdullahim was reported missing in November, and preliminary findings revealed visible signs of violence on his remains.
The police arrested a suspect, Aliyu Lawal, who confessed to the killing.
Adesina assured that all suspects currently in custody would be prosecuted after thorough investigations, emphasizing the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order in the state.
The commissioner urged residents to support the police by reporting suspicious activities promptly. “The safety of Plateau State is a shared responsibility. We call on citizens to provide timely information to help us continue tackling crime effectively,” he stated.
The arrests underscore the state command’s resolve to address criminality, even as residents and security agencies grapple with challenges posed by Plateau’s security landscape.
