Disabled man arrested for leading criminal activities

January 31, 2017 8:19 PM

The Benue state police have arrested a disabled man alleged to be the mastermind of criminal activities in the state.

The Nigerian Police Force recently killed five armed robber suspects

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The suspect, Sylvanus Ukpan, was picked up by the police in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state following a tip-off that he allegedly supplies charms as well as locally made bulletproof vests to criminals in and around the state.

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Daily Post reports that according to the Headquarters in Makurdi, Ukpan was apprehended by a special anti-crime squad, code-named Operation Zenda.

The Commissioner of Police, represented by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mose Yamu, disclosed that the suspect had been in the company of another, on their way to Wukari in Taraba State, when they were arrested.

“He was caught yesterday night with charms and seven locally-made bullet proof vests, which was meant to be supplied to a yet to be disclosed gang.

“We have already established that they were coming from Otukwuunya in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, when they were nabbed at Ayua, between Katsina-Ala and Wukari.

“We are still investigating the matter, but we strongly believe that he could have been arming criminal gang within that axis with charms and in this particular instance they might be heading to Gbishe.

“Our investigations also revealed that each of the vest is worth over N250, 000.

“But the investigation into the matter is still ongoing,” he said.

Meanwhile, 35-year-old Ukpan claimed that the charms were not meant for criminals.

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According to him, “The charm was given to me by a friend for protection against the people attacking our community, but my father asked me to return it that it was devilish.

“I was about to do that when the police arrested me,” he added.

Further investigations into the case are ongoing.