Police, troops arrest six suspected bombers of Wukari station, banks

THE police in Taraba State have arrested four of the 30 suspected terrorists who recently attacked several places in Wukari Local Council.

But the residents claimed that youths in the area also arrested two more suspects, whom they handed over to soldiers deployed in the area. The claim was confirmed by a military officer to The Guardian.

A police station, a brewery firm and three banks, were attacked by the terrorists, who also carted away an unspecified amount of money from the affected banks.

The Guardian learnt that residents of the council now go to Biam in Benue State and other neighboring councils for banking transactions, as the three major banks in the council were bombed by the terrorists.

The state Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Maishanu, through the command’s Public Relations Officer, Amos Olaoye, said four of the suspects had been arrested.

The suspects, he said, would be arraigned in court “when we have concluded our investigations.”

While the police said only four persons had been arrested in connection with the incidents, some Wukari residents alleged that they were six.

A resident claimed that “before the police made any arrest, youths in the area had picked up two of the suspects, whom they handed over to the soldiers.”

A top military personnel, who confirmed the arrest, said “the youth handed over two of the suspects to us, and we learnt that four others are also in police custody. So I think in all, six of them have been arrested.”

The military officer, who craved anonymity, said both the police and

troops were working together to ensure “the security of lives and property in the place (Wukari) and the state.”

The council chairman, Dan’azumi Agbo, narrated to The Guardian the predicament of the people of the council since the banks were attacked.

According to Agbo, “the attack has paralysed business activities in the council.”

He praised the security personnel for tracking down the hoodlums and pledged more assistance for the security operatives to ensure safety in the council.