The Benue State Police Command has
arrested six persons in connection with kidnapping and serial killing in Ushongo local government area of Benue state.
Officer and Men of Operation Zenda, an elite squad of the Benue State Police command also uncovered 16 shallow graves in the residence of the gang leader where they had buried their victims.
Out of this 16 graves, 11 have been exhumed and the bodies therein claimed by the respective families.
The commander of the squad, SP Justin Gbyindye, said the six suspects were arrested when 11 serial killer suspects were bursted in their hideout. According to him, the ring leader was arrested at his residence behind a rock where he buried his victims while five other suspects are now at large.
The commander said they swung into action following reported cases of missing persons and after due diligence the suspects were bursted. He said he suspected that the gang had preferences for Okada riders particularly those riding Baja motorcycles.
While the bodies were being exhumed, on Wednesday, the entire Ushongo community went berseck. However the angry youths and motorcyclists trooping in large numbers to observe and apparently take laws into their hands, were prevented by the police from doing so.
Only families of the victims were allowed to approach the shallow graves to examine the exhumed remains of their loved ones for proper identification and burial.
Some of them who spoke to our correspondent expressed their grief over the incident and appreciated the police for being able to arrest the suspects behind the dastardly act, saying at least they can now heave a sigh of relief.
The Next Edition reports that the remaining five Graves were yet to be exhumed as some of the relatives were not around to identify and recover the remains.
The gang leader, Iorwuese Pila, has four wives and 10 children. Pila accompanied by his family members took turns to identify the shallow graves of the victims without any remorse for his action.
Pila said he started kidnapping Okada riders in July 2019 adding that once the Okada man is killed, the motorbike will be sold.
The Caretaker Chairman of Ushongo LG Mr. Benson Agugu described the incident as unfortunate saying Governor Samuel Ortom has repeatedly warned the youths to eschew violence.
He stated that the suspects should be prosecuted as the entire community of Ushongo is behind the police.
Agugu commended the IGP, the police commissioner, Garba Mukaddas and the commander and team of operation Zenda for the arrests saying he will meet with bereaved families to decide on what to do next.
As at the time of filing this report, the police commissioner and the state governor Samurl Ortom were on their way to visit the site for breifing.
