Benue: How we saved Deputy Gov from angry protesters — Police

The Benue State Police Command has disclosed that it successfully prevented an attempted attack on the state’s Deputy Governor, Barr. Sam Ode, during a protest in Makurdi on Sunday.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, the police said the protest, which began peacefully at Wurukum Roundabout, was hijacked by hostile elements who turned violent and attempted to assault the Deputy Governor.

“Following intelligence reports, tactical teams were promptly deployed to monitor the situation and maintain order,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, accompanied the Deputy Governor to the scene in an effort to engage the demonstrators and appeal for calm. However, the protesters reportedly rejected the officials’ approach and became increasingly aggressive.

“To prevent harm, non-lethal crowd control measures—such as smoke and water cannons—were employed to disperse the protesters and safely evacuate the Deputy Governor. No injuries or casualties were recorded,” Edet stated.

The police also linked the violent incident in Apir, on the outskirts of Makurdi, to the protest. According to the statement, a group of hoodlums blocked a major road, intercepted a truck, and set it ablaze with the driver still inside. The victim’s identity remains unknown.