Police apprehend notorious bandit linked to murder of officers in Benue, Nasarawa

Operatives of the Benue State Police Command have arrested a suspected notorious bandit believed to be behind several deadly attacks on security personnel in both Benue and Nasarawa states.

According to a security expert, Zagazola Makama, the suspect, Yongu Justine Makwagh, from Kadarko in Nasarawa State, was nabbed at about 8:00 p.m. on Friday at Balcony Park in Makurdi after months of sustained surveillance.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Daudu led the operation, acting on credible intelligence and supported by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on special duty.

One source said Makwagh has long been on the command’s wanted list due to his alleged involvement in a series of violent attacks in the Sankera axis.

“The suspect was earlier linked to the killing of two Safer Highway Police personnel at Yelwata and two operatives of the Department of Operations (DOPS) in Daudu, during which firearms were carted away,” the source said.

Police authorities described the arrest as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle bandit networks operating across Benue and neighbouring states.

They also confirmed that the suspect is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation. Further investigations are underway to recover additional weapons and track down his accomplices.