Benue: Police arrest more suspects over varsity professor’s murder
Investigators Pursue Additional Suspects in Nyityo Killings
The Benue State Police Command has confirmed new arrests in the ongoing investigation of the murders of Professor Gabriel Saawua Nyityo and his younger brother, Iorngee John Nyityo. Detectives are actively pursuing further suspects linked to the alleged criminal network involved in the case.
During a press briefing held Friday at the Police Command Headquarters in Makurdi, Commissioner of Police Cletus Nwadiogbu addressed concerns regarding security in the region. He refuted recent reports alleging that armed bandits had obstructed the Makurdi-Lafia highway and attacked motorists, labeling those claims as false and intended to incite fear among residents.
Commissioner Nwadiogbu emphasized that the fatal shooting of the Nyityo brothers on July 8 in the Adaka Community was an assassination, not a robbery. Police responded quickly to a distress call made around 2:00 a.m., recovering the victims’ bodies at the scene.
Immediate security measures were put in place, resulting in the arrest of the prime suspect, Abdullahi Usman, 23, from Awe Local Government Area in Nasarawa State. He was apprehended at an NDLEA checkpoint in Lafia approximately four hours after the incident. The commissioner detailed that Usman attempted to evade detection by dismounting from motorcycles near the checkpoint and crossing on foot.
“He believed the NDLEA checkpoint was not manned by police and decided to walk across. However, our officers had already received information about the incident and were able to search him, discovering a phone that linked him to the crime,” Nwadiogbu stated.
The investigation has since expanded, with several other arrests made by security agencies in Nasarawa State, including the Department of State Services (DSS). Nwadiogbu indicated that local collaborators assisting the suspects within Benue are also being sought.
He informed attendees that preliminary findings reveal that certain criminal gangs, responsible for various attacks in Makurdi, often operate from neighboring Nasarawa State before returning after perpetrating their crimes. While additional arrests have been made, the commissioner refrained from specifying the number as investigations continue.
Addressing claims of banditry on the Makurdi-Lafia highway, Nwadiogbu reaffirmed that no such incidents occurred, stating, “That information was false. It was the handiwork of those trying to divert our attention and create panic. We patrolled the road thoroughly, and there were no incidents. People traveled freely.”
The commissioner also clarified that the Inspector-General of Police had not mandated the dismantling of legitimate police checkpoints nationwide. He specified that the directive pertained solely to illegal roadblocks set up by unauthorized individuals, not official security checkpoints.
Between June and July, police apprehended ten suspects linked to the killings of two Fulani leaders in Ohimini Local Government Area, averting what could have escalated into broader communal conflict between Benue and Cross River states.
Nwadiogbu highlighted successful operations that resulted in the neutralization of suspected armed robbers and kidnappers across various local government areas, confiscating weapons and other illicit items.
On a separate note, he disclosed that five suspected herders had been arrested for allegedly grazing cattle on cultivated farmlands in Guma, and seven suspects were captured in Naka following a violent incident during a burial.
Additionally, he reported the arrest of a woman in Ukum for allegedly setting a house ablaze, resulting in the deaths of two children, and indicated law enforcement’s vigilance against cult-related violence, with several arrests made in connection with cult activities.
Nwadiogbu also addressed the arrest of seven Pakistani nationals discovered during a security operation at a hotel in Otukpo. They are currently undergoing profiling but possess valid travel documents and claim they are in Nigeria for market research.
The commissioner appealed for continued community cooperation, urging residents to provide timely and accurate information to security agencies. “These breakthroughs reflect our commitment to ensuring criminals have no space to operate in Benue State. Security is a shared responsibility, and we encourage the public to remain vigilant and partner with the police,” he said.
