BY PETER DURU

MAKURDI — The Benue State Police Command, weekend, arrested a nine-man robbery and car snatching syndicate in Gboko Local Government Area of the state and recovered 10 rifles.

Briefing newsmen on the arrest, the command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Superintendent of Police, SP, Daniel Ezeala, who stood in for the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adama Audu, said officers of the command also recovered three cars from the gang.

According to Ezeala, “mid last month, the Benue State Police Command received a distress call from the duo of Messrs Kevin Terhemba and Fanen Uza, all of Gboko town, that some armed men in a Toyata Corolla car robbed and shot them in their homes.

“It was reported that Terhemba was waylaid at the entrance of his house and his Honda car with number plate, AKD 778 CH, snatched.

“The armed men also took away his cellphones worth N160,000, and other valuables after inflicting deep injury on his head with the gun butt.

“The said armed men later went to the home of Fanen Uza, shot him on the palm before collecting N120,000 and his Honda Sports Utility Vehicle from him.”

Ezeala said the matter was later investigated by officers of the Special Anti‑Robbery Squad which led to the arrest of Mr. Fanen Hon, who allegedly confessed to the crime with eight others including a lady.

He said the command in its investigations further recovered six AK‑ 47 rifles with 58 rounds of live ammunition, one pump action rifle, phones, electronics and a power generating set.