Police in Benue State have arrested four suspects linked to kidnapping and human trafficking.
DSP Udeme Edet, the force's spokesperson, disclosed the development on Saturday. She said the arrests came from separate operations targeting violent crime.
Three of the suspects were held in connection with a kidnapping case in Ushongo Local Government Area. One of them was the alleged victim who'd staged his own abduction.
According to investigators, the young man conspired with accomplices to extort N7 million from his family. He'd disappeared after meeting with a suspected acquaintance, sparking an investigation.
Technical intelligence helped detectives track down the suspects in Katsina-Ala. Family members had reported him missing, setting off the probe.
In a separate investigation, police uncovered a human trafficking network. The syndicate allegedly lured young women with promises of foreign job opportunities.
Edet explained that some victims were trafficked and subjected to exploitation and abuse. Several managed to escape and return to Nigeria.
Investigators arrested one suspect involved in the trafficking ring. Authorities are still hunting for other members operating outside the country.
The state's Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, vowed stronger action against criminals. He pledged commitment to tackling kidnapping, trafficking, and other violent offences statewide.
Emenari told residents the police would intensify operations across all areas. The assurance comes as crime levels remain a major concern in the region.
