Police nab suspect, recover 117 rounds of live ammunition in Benue
The Benue State Police Command has arrested a suspected criminal and recovered 117 rounds of live ammunition in Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said the arrest followed credible intelligence on the movement of a male suspect identified as Saamoga, also known as Aleki, who was allegedly transporting live ammunition from Gbagir to Zaki-Biam on a commercial motorcycle.
According to the statement, police operatives were immediately deployed to the Tse Dubem area of Ukum LGA, where they carried out a stop-and-search operation. On sighting the patrol team, the suspect reportedly disembarked from the motorcycle and attempted to flee.
Police operatives immobilised him with a gunshot to the leg and took him into custody.
A search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of 117 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition concealed inside socks in his handbag. Other items recovered included charms and a mobile phone.
The suspect reportedly confessed during preliminary investigations that the ammunition was being transported to Taraba State. He was subsequently taken to the General Hospital in Zaki-Biam for medical treatment, where he died while receiving care.
In a separate development, the Command disclosed that on February 6, 2026, it received a situation report on an attack by suspected armed herdsmen on Edikwu Icho community in Apa Local Government Area.
The attack was repelled by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), and security in the area has since remained calm.
The Police also confirmed that reconstruction work has commenced on the bridge linking Ugbokpo, Idogbu, Ochumeku and Ikobi, which was previously destroyed by suspected herdsmen. The project is being carried out under heavy security to ensure the safety of workers and residents.
The Command acknowledged the support of other security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Civil Protection Guard, and officials of the Benue State Government, noting that inter-agency collaboration has been key to maintaining peace and public safety.
Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, commended officers for their swift response and professionalism, while assuring residents of the Command’s commitment to proactive and intelligence-driven policing.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and continue to provide credible information to support crime prevention and detection efforts.
