Police nab kidnapper, killer of Benue priest, as IGP strengthens SARS

Benue Police Command said it had apprehended one suspect in connection with the kidnapping and killing of the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Rev. Fr. Jonh Adeyi.
Nigerian Pilot recalls that the decomposing body of Adeyi, who was kidnapped on April 10, was found on June 22 behind the Ogbadibo Local Government Council secretariat, Obu Otukpa in Benue.
The Benue Commissioner of Police, Mr Paul Okafor who disclosed this at the Inspector-General of Police conference with senior police officer in Abuja yesterday, said the police was working round the clock to apprehend other persons involved in the incident.
He said, “Interrogation was made, somebody has been picked, I want to still get details before I will make more comments on the matter.”
Meanwhile, acting IGP, Ibrahim Idris has assured he would strengthen the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in the 36 police commands and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to check incidences of kidnappings and other security challenges in the country.
The police chief, who gave the assurance during a meeting with senior police officers in Abuja yesterday, said, “In order to address these ugly challenges, the SARS in the commands will be restructured, reorganised and made more robust,” stressing that cases of kidnapping in the country and especially along the Okene-Lokoja-Kabba road was worrisome and required attention.
The police boss noted that violent criminality was gradually taking over the country’s streets and communities.
He said that the Police Mobile Force, PMF, and the Counter Terrorism Unit, CTU, would be restructured to play more active roles in the stability of the country.
“Time has come for the Nigeria police to play more active role in the unity and stability of this great country. This can only be achieved through the reorganisation and restructuring of the special police units of PMF and CTU.”
He said that the police under his control would vigorously pursue these projects to make them more professional and organised.
Idris said that all PMF and CTU personnel attached to individuals would be withdrawn with immediate effect.
“I am going to withdraw them from individuals, they are not body guards.”
He explained that they were specifically trained to respond to emergency.
He equally advised the state command commissioners against reintroducing road blocks in their commands.
“I want to state that the ban on road blocks is still on, any one involve would be checked. We will set up x-squads to suspected areas to check the trend,” he said.