The Benue State Police Command has arrested 17 residents over a mob attack on passengers of a commercial vehicle following a road accident in the state.
The passengers were attacked after the vehicle knocked down a villager, prompting residents to mobilise with machetes and assault occupants of the vehicle.
A senior police officer travelling in the vehicle was seriously injured and reportedly remained in a coma, while another officer sustained multiple machete wounds.
It was gathered on Monday that the Benue Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed the arrests while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Makurdi.
Nwadiogbu said the incident occurred at Adagi community along the Jato-Aka-Adikpo road in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to Nwadiogbu, the Divisional Police Officer of Kwande was also attacked when he arrived with his team to rescue the passengers.
He added that the mob further attacked other police officers, vandalised a Toyota Hilux vehicle and damaged the roof of a nearby police station.
According to the commissioner, the attackers also took away mobile phones and other personal belongings belonging to the victims during the incident.
He said the 17 suspects and exhibits recovered had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Makurdi for further investigation.
Nwadiogbu condemned the use of violence to settle disputes, warning residents against taking the law into their own hands.
“We are not in an animal kingdom but in a society governed by law,” the commissioner said, insisting that criminal matters must be addressed through lawful procedures.
He added that the suspects would be prosecuted after investigations were concluded.