By Egbe Attah, Otukpo
Barely two days after two members of a kidnapping and robbery gang were arrested in Otukpo, Benue State, another local security outfit, the Homeland Defence on Thursday, arrested another suspected armed robbery gang in the town for various offences.
The Police, while parading the suspects who include: Ogbu Ogaba, Daniel James, Samuel Peter, Paul Okoh, Ogwu Ubenyi alias “Coolio” and Oche Umoru a.k.a General said they were arrested at different locations in the town.
Guns of different calibre were said to have been recovered from the gang even as the suspects have been handed over to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and moved to Abuja for further investigation.
In a related development, the Homeland Defence arrested another robbery suspect in Otukpo. The suspect gave his name as Ogbu Ogaba.
Ogaba who hails from Ado Local Government confessed to have been part of a five-man robbery gang group that recently robbed Ezim Pharmacy in Otukpo.
Others mentioned by him are: Remedy of Egli Avenue; Jeff from Upu village; Francis Obeya a commercial motorcycle rider from Akpegede who goes by the alias NGC. He said the gun they used during the robbery operation were procured from a guy known as “Ambassador” and one “Junior.”
meanwhile the Police have moved some of the gang members to Makurdi, promising to go after the other two who are at large.
Reacting, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government, Mr George Alli, commended Homeland Defence, other vigilante groups in Otukpo, the Otukpo Police Division and the IRT.
He expressed deep satisfaction with the roles played by the various security outfits, stressing that the security groups have made the people of the town proud and that the people remain solidly behind them. He reiterated that council will not relent in its resolve to stamp out all acts of criminality in Otukpo.