The police in Benue have advised parents of three kidnapped children to refrain from staging public protests in order not to jeopardise investigations.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Austin Ezeani, gave the advice on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi.
Ezeani gave the advice against the background of increasing cases of kidnapping of infants in the state within the last three months and a protest by some parents.
Three women, Doosuur Aer, Charity Otame and Wandoo Henkyagh on Friday staged a protest at the NUJ House over their kidnapped children aged between four and seven.
The mothers said their children were kidnapped in various locations in Makurdi between August and September.
They appealed to the Benue Government and the security agencies to step up investigations into the cases and rescue their children as well as to bring the culprits to book.
Ezeani said the protests could jeopardise on-going police investigations.
He advised parents and guardians to protect their children and stop them from moving with strangers.
Ezeani described kidnapping as a “new wave of criminality in the state” but said the command was not leaving any stone unturned in its efforts to smash gangs involved in the act.
He said some arrested gang members had made useful confessions and were assisting the police in efforts to arrest others.
Meanwhile, Gov. Samuel Ortom has assured parents of kidnapped children of the safe recovery of their children, adding that the police had uncovered the hideouts and would soon arrest them.
He also appealed to the people to support the police and his administration to ensure security for all residents of the state to enable them to pursue their businesses
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