Written by David Ugbabe
Soldiers in Benue State have intercepted seventy-three men travelling in five trucks to Imo State. The men were arrested on Monday night at Agan Toll Gate, Makurdi, the Benue State capital by personnel from 72 Special Forces Brigade, Nigeria Army, Makurdi.
According to the soldiers, the suspects had 47 Bajaj motorcycles on board the five trucks and had various home addresses in Nasarawa State. Found on the suspects were some minerals like zinc and lead which they claimed to be conveying from Plateau State to a Port Harcourt, Rivers State-based company. The Commander of 72 Special Forces Brigade, Lt. Col. AD Alhassan said he and his men acted based on security report as they moved to intercept the trucks immediately, they got the hint that they were heading towards Makurdi.
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He further added that after waiting few hours the men arrived that at night and a thorough search has been conducted on them with all goods on the trucks offloaded and their motorcycles dismantled for proper search, but said no arms were found. One of the suspects when asked said they were aware of the security challenges in Imo State but were on their way to the State to do okada business and go because their brothers there told them that everything had calmed down.
The Benue State Deputy Governor Benson Abounu, who paid a visit to the soldiers this morning, expressed surprise that such a large number of young men from the same state could be found together going to a place like Imo State, which they know to be experiencing serious security challenges at the moment. He therefore commended the Special Forces for their diligence and professional conduct.
The Deputy Governor therefore challenged the security men to carry out detailed profiling of the passengers for further action as the answers coming from them do not add up.
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