Lawyer Assassinated as Police Parade 34 Arrested Criminals

George Okoh in Makurdi

Assassins last Wednesday night killed an Otukpo-based lawyer, Mike Ofikwu, at his residence on Otukpa Street in Otukpo, Benue State

A source close to the deceased, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the lawyer was ambushed by two armed men while waiting for his gate to be opened.

“Two armed men had laid an ambush for him. As he was waiting for his people to open the gate, the assailants emerged from hiding and shot him at a close range,” the source said.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, but medical personnel pronounced him dead on arrival.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, said an investigation was underway to apprehend those responsible for the attack.

“This incident is confirmed, and investigations are ongoing. I commiserate with his family and friends, and assure them that justice will be served,” Anene said in a brief statement.

Meanwhile in continuation of renewed commitment to clamp down on robbery, cultism and other criminal activities in Benue State, the state Police Command has arrested 34 more suspects across the state for various offenses.

The operation, which was coordinated by a combined operational team of the police, military and Civil Defence Corps was based on actionable intelligence sequel to the death of a young man in the north bank area of Makurdi, the state capital.

In a swift response, detectives were immediately deployed to the area. In the course of investigation, it was revealed that the death of the suspect was as a result of rival cult clash and subsequently arrested 18 more suspects at Avis Hotel with illicit drugs recovered from them.

Further joint operation by operatives of cybercrimes, Eagle Eyes and Anti-cult department of the Police Command aggressively raided hideouts of suspected cultists and apprehended 14 other suspects.

Items recovered from them include two locally fabricated pistols, three live cartridges, one single barrel gun, six mobile phones of different brands, three ATM cards, one laptop, one shisha pot, leaves suspected to be marijuana and the sum of twenty three thousand, six hundred and seventy naira (N23,670) only.

It was gathered that the suspects would soon be charge to court.

The state Commissioner of Police, Steve Yabanet, described the success of the operations as a clear testaments of the command’s resolve and commitment to rid the state of crime and criminal elements, and promised to sustain the onslaught to ensure the security and safety of the peace loving residents of Benue State. He urged the people to cooperate with the police by providing vital and timely information to nip crimes in the bud.