25 arrested over attack on police station

The Benue State Police Command said it has picked up 25 persons in connection with the attack on Igumale Police Station in the Ado Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were apprehended Sunday afternoon during a raid on criminal hideouts in the area.

According to reports, some gunmen on motorcycles in the early hours of Sunday attacked the police station, killing some of the policemen on duty. They also gained access to the division’s armoury, carting away arms.

While a policeman died on the spot, two others died at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, where they were taken for treatment. A police inspector, which led the team and a corporal were critically injured.

ASP Moses Yamu, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the arrest of the suspects while saying the command had been on the trail of the assailants.

He added that the gunmen did not succeed in freeing suspects in detention at the station.

The PPRO, however, said two policemen were killed while the inspector and a corporal were responding to treatment at the hospital.

He said, “Criminal hideouts in the area were raided on Sunday after the attack and about 25 persons were arrested.

“We are screening them to ascertain their culpability. All mercenaries have been set on ground to fish out those behind the attack and to recover the arms that were carted away.

“They made away with only three arms; they did not have access to the armoury. They actually came for the arms because the suspects inside the cell, including some of their accomplices, were intact.

“We lost two policemen to the attack. But the inspector that led the team and a corporal are being treated.”