Benue Police Vow to Eradicate Bandits from Forests

Cletu Nwadiaogbu, the Commissioner of Police for Benue State, has vowed to eliminate bandits from the forests of Benue following a series of deadly attacks that resulted in multiple fatalities and forced residents to flee their homes. The police are conducting operations in areas such as Ankpechi, Ogelewo, and Ugboju within the Otukpo Local Government Area, particularly focusing on Idekpa Forest, which is believed to be a major hideout for the attackers.

Nwadiaogbu acknowledged the challenges in locating the exact camps of the bandits during operations but assured residents that the command is determined to identify and dismantle these criminal camps. The police are enhancing their strategic response to distress calls and will maintain clearance operations until the criminal hideouts are identified and neutralized, aiming to restore normalcy in affected communities.

The police's swift response on Thursday, September 9, forced armed herders to retreat into the forest, restoring some confidence among the residents.