Nigeria: Benue Governor Ortom Announces Arrest of Traditional Rulers, Local Government Officials Over Killing of Soldiers

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has confirmed the detention of two traditional rulers and two officials of Konshisha local government area (LGA) in connection with the killing of 11 soldiers and a captain in Bonta village.

Mr Ortom on Monday gave the names of those arrested as Sam Kave, deputy chairman, Konshisha LGA; Tersoo Mela, councillor representing Mbatser/Mbaguza ward; Unaha Koko, the district head of Iwarnyam and Emmanuel Adegbenda, head of Bonta.

Governor Ortom said their arrest was part of the resolution of the state’s security council and said the arrested officials had useful information that could lead to the arrest of the killers of the soldiers.

“The council commended the minister of defence and service chiefs for allowing the state government and its security council to wade into the matter and help recover the lost weapons instead of the military going to do so themselves,” the governor said.

“Since then, we have not slept. We did everything to ensure that we recover the arms and by the grace of God we are able to recover eight AK47 plus the one the army recovered themselves earlier making it nine.

“We also recovered the machine gun that the militia took from them too and all the recovered weapons have been handed over to the army already.”

The governor said Benue state executive council will meet to discuss how to assist the families of the 12 military personnel.

The soldiers were killed on April 5 while on an operation to restore peace in some local governments in the state.

By Abel Ejikeme

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