The Benue State Police Command has taken into custody a suspected criminal and seized a cache of 117 rounds of live ammunition in Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, disclosed that the arrest was made following actionable intelligence regarding the movement of a male suspect identified as Saamoga, also known as Aleki.
The suspect was allegedly conveying live ammunition from Gbagir to Zaki-Biam on a commercial motorcycle.
Acting on the information, police operatives were swiftly deployed to the Tse Dubem axis of Ukum LGA, where a stop-and-search operation was conducted.
The statement noted that upon noticing the presence of security personnel, the suspect alighted from the motorcycle and attempted to escape.
He was, however, neutralised after being shot in the leg and was subsequently apprehended by the operatives.
A thorough search of the suspect led to the discovery of 117 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition hidden inside socks and tucked into his handbag. Items such as charms and a mobile phone were also recovered during the operation.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly confessed that the ammunition was being conveyed to Taraba State.
He was later taken to the General Hospital in Zaki-Biam for medical attention but reportedly died while receiving treatment.
In another incident, the Command revealed that it received a situation report on February 6, 2026, concerning an attack on Edikwu Icho community in Apa Local Government Area by suspected armed herdsmen.
The statement added that operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) successfully repelled the attack, restoring calm to the area, which has since remained peaceful.
The Police further confirmed that reconstruction of the bridge linking Ugbokpo, Idogbu, Ochumeku, and Ikobi previously destroyed by suspected herdsmen has begun.
The project is ongoing under tight security to safeguard construction workers and residents.
The Command appreciated the cooperation of sister security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Civil Protection Guard, and officials of the Benue State Government, stressing that effective inter-agency collaboration has played a vital role in sustaining peace and security.
Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, praised officers involved in the operations for their prompt response and professionalism, assuring residents of the Command’s resolve to sustain proactive and intelligence-led policing.
He also appealed to members of the public to stay calm and continue to supply credible information that would aid security agencies in preventing and combating crime across the state.
