Benue police bust syndicate, recover stolen motorcycles and charms; rescue children
Benue State Police Command has uncovered a hub of criminal activity in Makurdi, recovering stolen motorcycles, spare parts and fetish charms during a raid that drew the attention — and anger — of commercial motorcyclists in the area.
The discovery, made along George Akume Way, sparked a crowd surge as Okada riders stormed the compound after word spread that several of their missing bikes had been traced there.
Many of them claimed the number of stolen motorcycles ran into the hundreds.
One rider who spoke at the scene insisted that “over 400 motorcycles were recovered among other items,” while another, who identified himself simply as John, said he did not bother counting but believed “there were more than 500 motorcycles, motorcycle parts and other items.”
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, gave a different figure in the official report.
According to him, the operation followed a distress call on November 20, 2025, after a stolen Bajaj motorcycle was electronically tracked to the compound.
“Eleven (11) suspected stolen motorcycles, forty-seven (47) motorcycle seats, fuel tanks, criminal charms, three (3) mattresses, one (1) single-barrel firearm, and other items were recovered,” Edet said.
The situation took a tragic turn when two suspects fled the scene. Before officers arrived, they were apprehended by members of the public near the BIPC Company on the same road — and lynched.
Police later rushed them to the Federal Medical Centre, Wadata, where a doctor confirmed them dead. Their bodies were deposited at the hospital mortuary as the State CID took over the investigation.
In a separate operation the same day, police operatives on patrol along the Orokam–Enugu Road intercepted a suspicious vehicle and arrested three women — 57-year-old Mrs. Monica Okonkwo, 55-year-old Nkiru Nwosu, and 57-year-old Oyechele Francisca — all from Umude Oka Dunukofia in Anambra State.
The officers were alarmed to find six young children travelling with them: Amanda Chukwujekwu (8), Chioma Maduagwu (8), Oyechegi Kosisochukwu (9), Okonkwo Odinaka Chukwu (9), Arinze Chukwu (7) and Oluchukwu Esther (9).
DSP Edet said preliminary findings raised serious concerns. “The children were taken from Divine Peace and Grace Orphanage, Jos, Plateau State, under questionable circumstances, with the suspects claiming they were being transported to Anambra State,” he disclosed. The children, he added, have since been rescued and placed under protective care while the women remain in custody.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, condemned the mob action that led to the death of the two suspects, describing it as “a dangerous trend that obstructs justice, violates fundamental human rights, and sabotages Police investigations.” He appealed to residents to always hand suspects over to law-enforcement agencies rather than take matters into their own hands.
The Command assured the public that it remains committed to securing lives and property across Benue State and will release further updates as investigations progress.
