Two guards arrested in Benue for alleged assault on female trader

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Two operatives of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG), Terwase Aye Abere and Mayange Aondowase, have been arrested and handed over to the police in Makurdi following a violent assault on a female trader in Igbor village, Gwer East Local Government Area.
The confrontation reportedly escalated from a dispute over market levy collections.
According to eyewitness accounts, the suspects demanded payment from the trader, who explained she had not yet recorded any sales.
Viewing her response as a refusal to pay, the operatives physically attacked her, with viral online images showing the men dragging the victim through the market, leaving her severely injured and hospitalized.
Upon receiving reports of the incident, Chief Dr. Joseph Har, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, ordered the immediate arrest of the suspects.
During initial questioning at the BSCPG facility prior to their transfer to police headquarters, Abere and Aondowase stated they were acting under the instructions of a superior officer, identified as Mr. Ipker, and the supervision of Ward Commander Mr. Tiletswen, to forcibly bring the woman to their office regarding an unresolved matter.
Condemning the attack, Dr. Har directed the BSCPG State Commander to produce the mentioned supervising officers for interrogation and confirmed the primary suspects would face prosecution following full police investigations.
“The law will catch up with anyone hiding under the cover of security to harass or intimidate citizens,” Har stated, stressing that all security personnel must strictly adhere to human rights standards.
Police investigations into the assault remain ongoing.