This was the fifth time in the last five years they would come and harass us , every year, these wild men vented their spleen on us as, if it is sinful to live in that part of  Otukpo. They locked us in one room and threatened to kill us if we fail to tell them where our parents’ hard earned money and valuables were. It was 8.30pm specifically they came in and started backing orders on us.”

Ekemefuna Eze, 24 told newsmen their nasty experience during the time when they were left at the mercy of trigger happy men. “The last time they came, I was eating when I heard my brother calling my name and I moved towards the direction of the door only to come to the reality of the situation my mother and my other siblings were.

The bad guy pointed a pistol at me and asked me to obey him warning me of any act of disobedience, which I would live to regret. I had no option than to obey his intention. I told him where my money, DVD, electronics, jewellery, clothes and whatever I thought were of value to us all.

“They were about eight or nine-member gang and they were dishing orders in a military fashion to us. For about 40 minutes, we all had our hearts in our mouths. Thereafter, we had a respite when the robbers shifted attention from us to attack the CP Crack squad that came to our rescue.

“After a 20 minute exchange of fire between the police and the dare devil robbers, I saw two of the hoodlums drenched in their own blood as they were crying for help. “Inspector Frank who led the crack squad to our house came in to assure us that we were in safe hands after they had flushed the night marauders out of our house.”

The State Commissioner  Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed who paraded the two shot robbers during the battle eulogised the man name withheld, who called the attention of the crack team to the plight of the Ezes’, while he advised other Nigerians to emulate him explaining that if he had not given the police the information, the robbers could have escaped unhurt with their loots.

CP Mohammed maintained that his men were still searching for the remaining members of the gang who escaped with bullet wounds beyond the state, urging medical doctors not to treat any one with bullet wounds but should rather call in the police.

“We have recovered three pistols and double barrel guns including empty shelves, live cartridges and some ammunitions, left behind by the robbers as they flee from the scene”, he added.

He disclosed that the citizens must assist the police to  perform their roles stressing that policemen are not magicians or clairvoyant to identify robbers or trace them to their operational base.

“I want to again assure the people of Benue that we will live to their expectations, saying that it has put more men on the alert armed to the teeth since the breakout of the recent hostilities in Jos. We have made arrests of 110 suspects and they are in detention”.

“Our men will continue to patrol the streets and monitor the activities of criminals and others who want to disquiet our relatively peaceful state. We are keeping watch and will rise up adequately to any challenge posed. We need the cooperation and support of every one to nip in the bud the activities of the guys or religious fanatics who want to disturb our  peace.”