Police arrest more suspects over Benue varsity professor’s murder

The Benue State Police Command has announced fresh arrests in connection with the assassination of Prof. Gabriel Saawua Nyityo and his younger brother, Iorngee John Nyityo, as investigators intensify efforts to dismantle the criminal network behind the attack.

The command also debunked claims that armed bandits had taken over the Makurdi-Lafia highway and were attacking travellers, describing the reports as false and aimed at causing panic.

Speaking at a press briefing on Friday at the Police Command Headquarters in Makurdi, the Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, outlined recent security successes recorded across the state.

He stated that the July 8 killing of Prof. Nyityo and his younger brother in Adaka Community was a targeted assassination and not a robbery incident.

According to the police commissioner, officers attached to the ‘D’ Division responded to a distress call received around 2:00 a.m. and recovered the bodies of the two victims at the scene.

He explained that security personnel immediately activated stop-and-search operations, leading to the arrest of the principal suspect, 23-year-old Abdullahi Usman from Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, at an NDLEA checkpoint in Lafia just hours after the attack.

Nwadiogbu disclosed that the suspect attempted to avoid arrest by getting off commercial motorcycles before security checkpoints, crossing on foot and boarding another motorcycle afterwards.

“He felt the NDLEA checkpoint was not manned by policemen and decided to walk across. Unknown to him, the officers had already received information about the incident. They searched him, recovered a phone and from the phone we established that he was one of the suspects,” Nwadiogbu said.

The commissioner said security agencies in Nasarawa State, including the Department of State Services (DSS), expanded the investigation and apprehended more suspects linked to the crime.

“They have made more arrests of those who came with him, and they have assured us they will hand them over. We are also determined to identify and arrest those who assisted them within Benue because there must have been local collaborators,” he stated.

He noted that preliminary investigations suggest some criminal gangs responsible for attacks in Makurdi often operate from neighbouring Nasarawa State before retreating after carrying out their operations.

Although he confirmed additional arrests, the commissioner declined to disclose the number of suspects currently in custody, citing ongoing investigations.

Reacting to reports that armed bandits had mounted roadblocks on the Makurdi-Lafia highway, Nwadiogbu dismissed the claims as fabricated.

“That information was false. It was the handiwork of enemies who wanted to divert our attention and create panic. We patrolled the road from one end to the other. Nothing happened. People travelled freely throughout,” he said.

He also clarified that the Inspector-General of Police had not directed the removal of legitimate police checkpoints across the country.

According to him, the directive only targets illegal roadblocks mounted by unauthorised individuals and not officially recognised security checkpoints.

“The Inspector-General never ordered the dismantling of police checkpoints. We are only removing illegal roadblocks mounted by individuals or groups who have no authority to stop road users. Security agencies will continue to perform their lawful duties on our highways,” he explained.

The commissioner further disclosed that between June and July, police arrested 10 suspects over the killing of two Fulani leaders after a peace meeting in Ohimini Local Government Area, adding that prompt intervention prevented the incident from escalating into a broader communal crisis involving Benue and Cross River states.

He added that operatives also neutralised suspected armed robbers and kidnappers during separate operations in Makurdi, Katsina-Ala and Logo local government areas, recovering four AK-47 rifles, six locally made pistols, 23 rounds of live ammunition, two motorcycles, mobile phones and assorted charms.

Nwadiogbu said officers also recovered a stolen commercial motorcycle from a robbery suspect arrested in Guma Local Government Area, while raids on criminal hideouts in Katsina-Ala resulted in the arrest of 15 suspected criminals and the seizure of three bags of substances suspected to be cannabis.

He revealed that five suspected herders were arrested in Guma for allegedly grazing cattle on cultivated farmlands, while seven suspects were apprehended in Naka over the killing of a man during the burial of a youth leader.

The commissioner also confirmed the arrest of a woman in Ukum Local Government Area for allegedly setting a house ablaze, an incident that reportedly claimed the lives of two children.

On cult-related offences, he said one suspect was arrested after a clash between rival cult groups in Makurdi, while 12 suspected cultists were apprehended in Gboko during what investigators described as an annual cult gathering.

Nwadiogbu further disclosed that police had arrested a suspect linked to the deadly attack on Otukpo-Nobi community, adding that investigators had obtained valuable information about those who allegedly aided the attackers.

He also said seven Pakistani nationals intercepted at a hotel in Otukpo possessed valid travel documents and told investigators they were in Nigeria to conduct a market survey ahead of establishing an electronics business. According to him, they are currently being profiled by the State Criminal Investigation Department.

Appealing for continued public cooperation, the police commissioner urged residents to provide credible and timely information to security agencies.

“These breakthroughs reflect our determination to deny criminals any space to operate in Benue State. Security is a shared responsibility, and we urge members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to partner with the police,” he said.