The Benue State Police Command has taken into custody three individuals over alleged involvement in robbery and cult-related activities, barely days after four suspected cultists were arrested in Gboko Local Government Area following a violent confrontation that reportedly claimed the lives of two persons.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, and made available to journalists.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, two of the suspects were apprehended on Monday in Vandeikya Local Government Area while allegedly attempting to dispossess residents of their belongings.
“On the 5th of January 2026 at about 1430hrs, the Divisional Police Officer, Vandeikya Division, received credible information that some hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers were sighted within the area, allegedly in possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons,” the statement read.
The police explained that a swift response led to the arrest of the suspects during an operation in the area.
“During the operation, two suspects, namely, Dominic Terkaa Peter, 30, and Sunday Tarvihi, 31, both of Ako-Fate, Ute, Vandeikya Local Government Area, were arrested.”
DSP Edet further disclosed that a separate operation on the same day led to the arrest of a suspected cultist in Guma Local Government Area.
“In a related development at about 1520hrs, the Divisional Police Officer, Yelwata Division, received actionable intelligence that suspected cult members were planning to attack rival groups and unsuspecting members of the public in Udei area of Guma LGA,” the statement said.
The police noted that one suspect was apprehended during the operation, while others fled the scene.
“During the operation, Mnyam Ternenge, 21, of Udei, Guma Local Government Area, was arrested, while other suspects managed to escape,” the statement added.
Items recovered from the suspects include a cutlass, a knife, hard drugs, a locally made revolver pistol and a jack knife.
Preliminary findings, according to the police, indicated that the arrested cult suspect confessed to being a member of the MBS cult group.
DSP Edet stated that investigations have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Makurdi, while efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Emenari Ifeanyi, reassured residents of the Command’s resolve to stamp out cultism and other criminal activities across the state.
He also appealed to members of the public to continue to support the police with prompt and reliable information to enhance security operations.
