Benue govt official arrested over alleged possession of illegal firearm

Soldiers of Operation WhirlStroke have arrested Adah Ameh, a councillor from Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.

He was arrested for allegedly carrying a firearm without a license, according to security sources on Monday.

Ameh, 43, was reportedly taken into custody by soldiers on Friday, March 8, at Omusu, a rural community situated in the local government area within the Benue South Senatorial District.

Soldiers, who were providing security coverage in the volatile region during the distribution of relief materials at Omusu, observed Mr. Ameh in possession of a pistol.

The councillor, who hails from Effeche in Ojigo Ward, serves as the Supervisory Councilor for Health in Okpokwu LGA.

The arrest occurred during the distribution of relief materials organized by Omale Onyilo, the caretaker chairperson of the local government, in collaboration with the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

DAILY POST gathered that tension rose when unusual movements were noticed among the guests.

According to a source, who spoke to newsmen, soldiers spotted Mr. Ameh carrying a pistol amid the distribution exercise, prompting swift action to disarm him.

“Soldiers sighted the councillor carrying a pistol while the palliatives were being distributed at Omusu community. So, they (soldiers) immediately disarmed him,” the source said.

Upon interrogation, Mr. Ameh claimed to have received the firearm from Michael Ameh Idu, the second in command of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards (BSCVGs) at Omusu, purportedly for self-defense against Fulani bandits and kidnapping threats.

The suspect alleged that the weapon had been confiscated from a suspected Fulani bandit since 2022.

Following his arrest, Mr. Ameh was handed over to the police at Okpoga, the headquarters of Okpokwu LGA, for further investigation and potential prosecution.

Efforts to obtain comments from the police spokesperson in Benue, Sewuese Anene, and the commander of Operation WhirlStroke, Sunday Igbinomwanhia, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.