Police record success, arrest 3 over killing of 2 Benue priests, 17 parishioners

macfranc007 June 21, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Nurudeen Lawal

- The Benue state commissioner of police, Fatai Owoseni, confirmed the arrest of three suspects in connection with the killing of two priests in the state

- He said the suspects are already undergoing prosecution

- Owoseni added that the command under his watch would do everything to rid the state of criminals

The police in Benue state have arrested and commenced prosecution of three suspects over their roles in the killing of two priests in the state.

The Benue state commissioner of police, Fatai Owoseni, confirmed that the three are currently being prosecuted in connection with the killing of parishioners including two priests in Mbalom Catholic Church in Gwer East local government area of the state, Daily Trust reports.

Recall that some gunmen on Tuesday, April 24 attacked the worshippers while they were observing the 5.30 am Mass at St. Ignatius’ Catholic Church in Mbalom rural community of Gwer East, killing the priests and 17 others.

Owoseni stated in Makurdi on Wednesday, June 20, that three people linked to the killings were later arrested and are undergoing prosecution along with many others apprehended from different parts of the state for various offences.

On whether a telephone of one of the deceased priests was found in the possession of one of the suspects linked to the killings as gathered from sources, Owoseni declined to comment, saying: “That would be all. I didn’t say so.”

The commissioner, however, added that the command under his watch would do everything to rid the state of criminals even as he did not disclose the identity of the arrested suspects.

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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that the Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday, June 12, said that the state had lost over N400 billion to herdsmen attacks since 2015.

Ortom said the estimate was gotten from the preliminary report of an assessment on damage caused by the crisis between herdsmen and farmers in Benue state.

Speaking in Makurdi, Ortom said the loss from the attacks was much and difficult to recover from.

Nigerian herdsmen vs Nigerian farmers - on NAIJ.com TV