The Plateau State Police Command has announced the arrest of multiple suspects including cultists, bandits, and kidnappers, linked to cult violence, illegal arms possession, and murder across the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Bassey Ewah, who briefed newsmen on the activities of the Force at the Police Headquarters in Jos on Friday, said the Command had recorded breakthroughs in its ongoing crackdown on crime, which included the recovery of a human skull and illegal firearms from the suspects.
CP Ewah disclosed that operatives, acting on credible intelligence, arrested a 31-year-old suspect identified as David Ponnan in the early hours of April 29 at JUTH, Lamingo area and items recovered from him included a locally made double-barrelled pistol, a pump-action cartridge, and a human skull.
“The suspect claimed he took the firearm from a local vigilante operative and converted it for personal use. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the disturbing discovery,” the Police Commissioner said.
He added that in a separate operation on April 30th, nine suspects were arrested by officers of the Nassarawa Gwong Division over alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy, assault, and cult-related activities in Jos North Local Government Area.
“The suspects, all residents of Bulbula and Dilimi communities, were accused of attacking several individuals with dangerous weapons, leaving one victim with serious injuries. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects belong to rival cult groups known for terrorizing residents in the Dilimi axis,” Ewah said.
He added that the Command also arrested two other suspects, Musa Adamu and Mohammed Abubakar, in Gudus village of Wase Local Government Area for suspected involvement in banditry. He said the duo was intercepted along a route commonly used by bandits to launch attacks on nearby communities.
“During interrogation, they confessed to supplying cash and materials to bandits in their hideouts. Recovered items include cigarette packs, N50,000 cash, Airtel recharge cards, and substances linked to illicit drug use,” he said.
CP Ewah, however, assured residents that all the suspects will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations, while reiterating the Command’s commitment to tackling crime and urged the public to continue providing useful information to aid security operations.
