crime

Mortuary Attendant Abducted in Benue over Planned Mass Burial of Attack Victims

Published

8 months ago

March 14, 2026

Q Tinny

Benue mortuary attendant abducted as thugs disrupt planned mass burial for victims of bandit attack in Kwande Local Government Area

A mortuary attendant at NKST Hospital in Jato Aka, headquarters of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, has reportedly been abducted by suspected thugs in an attempt to stop a planned mass burial for victims of a recent bandit attack.

Also read: Court Admits AK-47 Evidence in Benue Attack Trial

The victim, identified as MT Tiga, was abducted on Thursday, preventing families of the deceased from accessing the corpses deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.

The victims had been killed when bandits invaded Tyungu Jam and Mbaav communities in Yaav and Mbadura council wards of Kwande Local Government Area on March 5, leaving several people dead and many others injured.

The Governor of Benue State condemned the killings, describing them as “senseless and barbaric” in a statement issued by his media aide, Solomon Iorpev, and called on security agencies to apprehend those responsible.

Eleven victims of the attack had been scheduled for a mass burial on Thursday, an event that attracted families, community members and priests from within and outside the state.

However, the burial arrangements were disrupted when suspected thugs allegedly stormed the hospital, abducted the mortuary attendant and sealed the mortuary, denying families access to the bodies of their loved ones.

Reacting to the development, the All Progressives Congress in Benue condemned the incident, describing it as disgraceful and alleging that it was sponsored.

In a statement issued by the party’s state publicity secretary, Daniel Ihomun, the party said the act was an attempt to prevent the Turan community from conducting a mass burial for the victims.

“This barbaric act is not only inhumane but also an assault on the fundamental right of a community to mourn and bury their dead with dignity,” the statement read.

Also reacting, the President-General of Mdzough U Tiv Worldwide, Iorbee Ihagh, described the incident as shameful.

“It is very shameful. People came from far away, even outside the country, but the mortuary attendant was not seen and the place was locked,” Ihagh said, adding that community members had wanted to force open the mortuary but were restrained by a priest.

When contacted, the Chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, Neji Terhile, said those organising the mass burial did not consider the volatile security situation in the area.

He noted that some victims had already been buried.

Also read: Fear in Benue Over Alleged Herdsmen Attack

“You are aware that these people slept in their houses and were attacked by Fulanis. Mobilising a mass burial in such a community is a death trap,” Terhile said.

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crime

Police Arrest Convicted Drug Dealer, Rescue 14-Year-Old Boy in Bauchi

Published

11 hours ago

October 27, 2026

Peculiar Adirika

Bauchi drug dealer arrest leads to the rescue of a 14-year-old boy allegedly used as a drug courier and the recovery of suspected illicit substances

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old convicted drug dealer and rescued a 14-year-old boy who was allegedly being used to deliver illicit drugs in the state.

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The command said operatives of its Violent Crimes Response Unit intercepted the teenager during a routine patrol and recovered a granular whitish substance suspected to be methamphetamine.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

According to Habib, the operatives, led by the unit’s officer-in-charge, intercepted the minor, identified as Samuel Nkemakolan Kosi, at about 11 am on October 26, 2026, while he was allegedly on his way to deliver the suspected drug, also known as Ice, to a customer.

The statement said the teenager told investigators that he had been sent by Samuel Ogochukwu, a 22-year-old convicted drug dealer, to make the delivery.

“Upon interrogation, the minor confessed that he was sent by one Samuel Ogochukwu, 22 years old, a convicted drug dealer, to make the delivery,” Habib said.

Following the information, detectives traced Ogochukwu to his location and arrested him.

A search of the suspect’s shop and residence reportedly led to the recovery of 3.5 grammes of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine, 17 sachets of 100mg tramadol capsules, five sachets of 300mg pregabalin capsules and seven sachets of diazepam.

The police also recovered 12 Exol tablets, two wraps of a substance known as Yellow Boys and one sachet of Shine Shine Leather.

Habib said the principal suspect told investigators that he received supplies of illicit drugs through waybills from Onitsha, Anambra State.

The police spokesman added that the 14-year-old had been handled in accordance with juvenile best practices and would be reunited with his family after counselling.

“The 14-year-old minor has been handled in line with juvenile best practices and will be reunited with his family after counselling, while the principal suspect will be charged to court upon completion of investigation,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended the operatives for their work and urged the public to remain alert to criminal activity.

According to Habib, the commissioner said four major drug busts and subsequent convictions recorded within 10 days demonstrated the command’s continued efforts to combat drug trafficking.