Benue State Police arrest three suspects in connection with robbery and cultism, recovering weapons and drugs, as investigations continue

The Benue State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with robbery and cult-related activities, following recent clashes between rival cult groups that left two people dead.

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DSP Udeme Edet, the State Command spokesperson, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that two suspects, Dominic Terkaa Peter, 30, and Sunday Tarvihi, 31, both from Ako-Fate, Ute, Vandeikya Local Government Area, were apprehended on Monday while allegedly attempting to rob members of the public.

“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 in the area, allegedly in possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons,” DSP Edet stated.

On the same day, another suspected cultist, Mnyam Ternenge, 21, of Udei, Guma Local Government Area, was arrested after intelligence indicated that he and associates were planning to attack rival groups and unsuspecting residents in Udei.

Other suspects reportedly escaped.

Recovered items from the two operations included a cutlass, a knife, a locally fabricated revolver, a jack knife, and hard drugs.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Ternenge confessed to being a member of the MBS cult group.

DSP Edet confirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, with further investigations being conducted by the State CID, Makurdi.

The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Emenari Ifeanyi, reassured residents of the command’s commitment to eradicating cultism and all forms of criminality.

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He urged the public to provide timely and credible information to aid effective policing.