Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom says arrests have been made in connection with the killing of 12 army personnel comprising 11soldiers and an Army captain in Bonta village in Konshisha Local Government Area of the state.
Ortom made the announcement while reading the resolutions of the state Security Council Meeting to the Expanded Security Meeting on Monday in Makurdi.
Ortom who explained that the arrest was part of the resolution of the security council, said those arrested were the Deputy Chairman of Konshisha Local Government Area, Mr Sam Kave Terso Mela, Councilor representing Mbatser/ Mbaguza ward, Mr Unaha Koko, the District Head of Iwamyam and Mr Emmanuel Adegbenda, the kindred Head of Bonta.
Ortom alleged that the suspects had useful information that would lead to the arrest of the militia gangs that killed the soldiers.
The 12 military men were on Special mission to restore peace between warring communites of Konshisha Local Government Area when they were ambushed, killed and burnt by the criminals.
The governor said the Council’ in collaboration with the stakeholders have recovered 8 AK-47 rifles and a machine gun the militia took from the army.
According to him, the security council resolved to pay a condolence visit to President Muhammadu Buhari over the killing and would meet to discuss how best to assist the bereaved families of the 12 army personnel killed by the militia gang.
He added that the council commended the Minister of Defence and Service Chiefs for the confidence they have in the state to wade into the matter and help with the recovery of the lost weapons instead of the military doing so by themselves .
