Benue, Enugu Police Commands Move To Curb Cross-Border Crimes

In a decisive move to stem the tide of interstate criminal activities, the Commissioners of Police for Benue and Enugu States, Emenari Ifeanyi Innocent, and Mamman Bitrus Giwa have held a joint strategic meeting aimed at reinforcing operational synergy between the two Commands.

The high-level meeting, which took place in Benue State on Wednesday, was convened to address the growing wave of cross-border crimes, including kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent offences perpetrated by criminal networks operating along the Benue–Enugu boundary communities.

During the session, both Commissioners identified the increasing infiltration of criminal elements and their collaboration with local accomplices in border towns as major security challenges. To curb these threats, they resolved to:

Strengthen intelligence sharing and joint investigative mechanisms;

Conduct coordinated patrols and special operations across identified flashpoints; and

Deploy security resources more effectively in vulnerable border communities.

The renewed partnership will focus particularly on Ado, Ogbadibo, and Okpokwu Local Government Areas of Benue State, as well as Igbo-Eze North, Isi-Uzo, and Udenu Local Government Areas of Enugu State locations that have recently witnessed heightened criminal activity.

Both Commands further agreed to institutionalize routine joint meetings and deepen cooperation among divisional officers to ensure seamless intelligence flow, quick response to emerging threats, and sustained peace in the region.

It was noted that previous collaborative operations between the two Commands had yielded tangible results, including the arrest of notorious suspects, recovery of stolen vehicles, and rescue of kidnapped victims.

The Police reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining this spirit of cooperation, assuring residents of both States that no criminal enterprise will be allowed to thrive across their shared boundaries.

This was contained in a joint statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officers of Enugu and Benue States, Daniel Ndukwe, and Edet Udeme, respectively.