The Taraba State Police Command has arrested two suspects linked to the brutal killing of three police officers in Donga Local Government Area, in what authorities describe as a major breakthrough in the ongoing investigation.
The command’s spokesperson, Victor Mshelizah, disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Jalingo that the suspects, Suleman Abdullahi, 30, and Idris Kauri, 33, both natives of Akete Village, were apprehended following intelligence-led operations.
According to the police, the officers were ambushed and murdered by suspected militia members at Tse Kwe Tor Damisa, with their service rifles taken away during the attack.
The statement noted that the stolen weapons have since been recovered, while the arrested suspects remain in custody and will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.
“The command has made significant progress by arresting some of those involved in the attack, while efforts are ongoing to track down other fleeing accomplices,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Morkwap Dongshal, had earlier visited the affected communities to assess the security situation in Donga and neighbouring Takum Local Government Areas.
In a separate operation, operatives of the Zing Divisional Police Headquarters intercepted two other suspects during a routine stop-and-search exercise at Yonko.
The suspects, identified as Torme Terzugwe, 39, from Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, and Job David, 35, from Toungo Local Government Area of Adamawa State, were reportedly found with 304 rounds of live ammunition.
Police authorities said the suspects were travelling on an unregistered motorcycle en route to Ganye Local Government Area of Adamawa State when they were intercepted.
Investigations into the ammunition haul are ongoing, as the command intensifies efforts to curb criminal activities across the state.