Police Arrest 54 Suspected Militants in Edo

• To be arraigned in court today, says AG

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

No fewer that 54 suspected militants from the Niger Delta have been reportedly arrested from different parts of Edo State in the past three days by a crack team of detectives from the police force headquarters in Abuja.

Several AK-47 and pump actions guns and the sum of N9million were allegedly recovered from the militants who were said to have invaded Edo State from neighbouring states with a view to causing mayhem in the last weekend’s governorship election which was postponed.

It was learnt that ongoing covert operation which was ordered by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, following the discovery made by security agencies of plans to unleash mayhem by the suspected militants in Edo State, led to the postponement of the governorship election.

Security sources reliably informed that the police detectives are being assisted by the Intelligence Unit of the military hierarchy and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The arrested militants who were said to have invaded the state through the riverine communities in the state, were arrested in a popular hotel in Benin City and Okada town.

THISDAY also learnt that attempts by a top chieftain of one of the political parties to secure their release was rebuffed.

While most of the suspected militants are being interrogated, about 13 of them might be arraigned in court this week.

It would be recalled that Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State had raised an alarm over the alleged invasion of the state by militants with the a view to perpetrate violence during the elections.

Reacting, the Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Henry Idahagbon, confirmed the arrest, saying that “some of them will be charged to court tuesday.”