That was the figure released Thursday by the Benue State Police Command as officers detailed a series of raids tied to kidnapping, armed robbery, vehicle theft, and an alleged overseas job scam network operating across parts of the state.

The operations, according to police statements issued by spokesperson DSP Udeme Edet, stretched from Gboko to Otukpo and Ushongo local government areas between May 21 and May 22, 2026. Officers said tactical teams recovered two locally made AK-47 rifles, two pistols, live ammunition, a stolen Lexus RX 350, and a motorcycle allegedly linked to a violent robbery case.

The arrests arrive as security agencies in Benue continue facing pressure over recurring abductions along rural transit corridors and inter-state routes connecting the North Central region to southeastern Nigeria.

Gboko Raid Produced Weapons, But Police Released Few Operational Details

Police said five suspects were arrested during a tactical operation in Gboko Local Government Area on May 21 after what the Command described as “credible intelligence” linked the group to kidnapping and armed robbery activities.

According to the statement from DSP Edet, the suspects allegedly opened fire on operatives before they were subdued and arrested. The Command said officers recovered two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, two pistols, and multiple rounds of ammunition from the scene.

Yet the police statement omitted several details that investigators and prosecutors usually disclose in major violent crime cases. Authorities did not identify the suspects, specify prior incidents connected to the group, or indicate whether any victims had formally identified the men in custody. The Command also did not disclose the serial status of the recovered weapons or whether ballistic analysis had begun at the State Criminal Investigation Department.

Our analysis of police statements issued in Benue since January 2026 shows at least four separate announcements involving “intelligence-led” anti-kidnapping raids. In most cases, police disclosed arrests and weapons recoveries immediately but provided limited follow-up information about prosecutions, convictions, or court filings.

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Lexus RX 350 Interception Highlights Interstate Vehicle Theft Routes

A second operation unfolded in Otukpo on May 22 after police received intelligence that a stolen Lexus RX 350 was being moved through Benue from Owerri.

Police said officers attached to the Otukpo Division intercepted the SUV around the Otukpo axis and arrested one suspect. The Command did not release the chassis number, registration details, or ownership documents connected to the vehicle.

Vehicle theft investigators have repeatedly identified the Owerri, Makurdi, Otukpo, and Katsina-Ala corridor as a transit route for stolen automobiles moving between southern and northern markets. The police statement did not indicate whether the recovered Lexus had already been listed on the national stolen vehicle database maintained through police and insurance coordination units.

The absence of that information leaves unanswered questions about the scale of organized coordination behind the theft.

One suspect remains in custody.

Ushongo Kidnapping Probe Turned Into Alleged Ransom Fraud Case

The Command’s most unusual disclosure involved a kidnapping complaint in Ushongo Local Government Area tied to a N7 million ransom demand.

Police said a family reported that a young man disappeared after leaving with an acquaintance. Investigators alleged that ransom calls followed shortly afterward, prompting detectives to begin tracking suspects connected to the case.

According to the police account, investigators first arrested one suspect before extending operations into Katsina-Ala, where two additional suspects were detained. Police then claimed the supposed victim was part of the operation and had collaborated in staging the abduction.

False kidnapping arrangements have become an increasing concern for investigators because they exploit the same fear networks used in genuine abduction cases. Security analysts and prosecutors say staged ransom plots also complicate public reporting because families often hesitate to involve police quickly, fearing retaliation against victims.

Police have not released evidence supporting the allegation that the victim orchestrated the disappearance. No court filings were referenced in the statement issued Thursday.

Police Expanded Investigation Into Alleged Overseas Job Scam Network

The broadest allegation in Thursday’s briefing involved what police described as a human trafficking and fake overseas recruitment syndicate targeting young women.

According to preliminary findings cited by the Command, suspects allegedly promised victims employment opportunities abroad before trafficking and exploiting some of them outside Nigeria. Police said several victims later escaped and returned home.

Authorities confirmed one arrest but withheld the suspect’s identity and the countries connected to the alleged trafficking route. Police also said additional suspects are believed to be operating outside Nigeria.

The claim places the investigation within a wider pattern documented by anti-trafficking agencies over the past decade. Nigerian authorities, including the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, have repeatedly warned about fraudulent recruitment schemes promising jobs in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe.

But the police statement stopped short of identifying recruitment agencies, travel facilitators, or financial channels allegedly used in the Benue case.

Those details remain missing.

Commissioner of Police Ifeanyi Emenari commended officers involved in the operations and said the Command would continue “aggressive operations” against kidnapping, trafficking, and violent crime across the state.

The statement projected confidence. The evidence trail is still developing.

Police announced seven arrests across Gboko, Otukpo, Ushongo, and Katsina-Ala within two days, but released limited identifying information about suspects or court processes.

Officers recovered two locally made AK-47 rifles, two pistols, ammunition, and a stolen Lexus RX 350 allegedly traced from Owerri through Benue State.

Investigators now claim a supposed kidnapping victim participated in arranging a N7 million ransom scheme involving relatives and acquaintances.

The alleged overseas job scam network may extend beyond Nigeria, yet police have not identified the foreign destinations, recruiters, or partner agencies involved.

Why are police withholding suspects’ names?

Police statements often omit identities during early investigations, especially before formal charges. But once suspects are arraigned, names, charges, and court divisions usually become public records.

Was anyone killed during the Gboko operation?

No deaths were announced by police. The Command said suspects exchanged gunfire with operatives before being arrested.

Are there confirmed trafficking victims in the case?

Police said some victims allegedly escaped exploitation abroad and returned to Nigeria. Authorities did not disclose the number of victims or provide medical or legal documentation confirming those claims.

The next unresolved question sits with prosecutors and investigators at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Makurdi. Police have not disclosed when the suspects will be charged, whether federal trafficking statutes will apply, or whether courts will authorize asset tracing tied to the alleged N7 million ransom demand and the recovered Lexus RX 350.