Benue: Four officers Missing As ‘Herdsmen’ Ambush Police Team

Related stories

Tinubu Names IBB’s Son, Top Experts to Lead Key Nigerian Agencies

By Abiola Olawale President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Muhammad...

2027: Labour Party Appoints Nenadi Usman as Interim National Chairperson 

By Abiola Olawale  Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the...

The police in Benue are searching for four officers following an attack on a patrol team in Logo Local Government Area on Saturday afternoon, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

The men were returning from a confidence-building mission in remote villages when suspected herdsmen opened fire on them in Tse Akpam village, near Azege town, police and residents told PREMIUM TIMES.

“We had had an encounter around Azege when a team of mobile police went on confidence patrol,” said police commissioner Fatai Owoseni. “When they were coming back at a point in Azege, they started hearing gunfire from inside the bush suspected to be from the herdsmen.There was a serious exchange of gunfire.”

Mr. Owoseni said the attackers burnt a police van and four officers could not be found as at 7:20 p.m. Saturday.

“One of our vehicles was set ablaze. So far, on their side, we’re still trying to ascertain casualties; while we’re yet to see four of our men,” he said.

The police chief said more officers have been dispatched to the areas to comb for the missing officers.

His statement to PREMIUM TIMES corroborates what witnesses had earlier informed this newspaper about the development.

Residents told PREMIUM TIMES that a police officer who sustained gunshot injury was taken to the hospital in Ayilamo, the headquarters of Tombo Council Ward about eight kilometres from Azege where the attack occurred.

Enoch Nyikyaa, a chief in Logo LGA, told PREMIUM TIMES the attack occurred in his domain and that the herdsmen who carried it out also destroyed farmlands with their cattle.

He said the attack occurred in Tse Akpam village, which is within Azege.

The herdsmen are still reportedly grazing in some remote villages in Benue despite a subsisting law that prohibits open-grazing in the state.

The attack comes a day after three persons were killed in separate assaults on villages in the same local government area Thursday night.

Three persons who sustained injuries in the attacks are currently undergoing treatments at the hospital.

The Thursday night attack, which occurred near Anyiin, a town in Logo LGA that serves as a base for police special forces, earned the police renewed criticism from those who believe the security agencies are doing too little to resolve the frequent herdsmen clashes, which has claimed over a hundred lives in Benue alone this year.

Residents have also accused the police of being too afraid to move to the dangerous areas where herdsmen are said to be hiding and which they use as bases to launch attacks, a situation that some officers confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES in confidence last month.

But Mr. Owoseni said Saturday’s attack should be seen as an evidence of police’s proactive approach towards the crisis.

“People are saying police are not working, but going on confidence-building patrol is being proactive,” Mr. Owoseni said. “If we didn’t go on patrol, how would we have suffered this attack?”

The commissioner said Azege and its environs are safe, urging the residents to believe in the ability of police to return peace to the entire state.

“We will not relent, we’ll continue to take the fight to them and give assurances to the people that we won’t wait until they come and attack them,” he said.

Hamilton Nwosa
Hamilton Nwosa
Hamilton Nwosa is an experienced, and committed communication, business, administrative, data and research specialist . His deep knowledge of the intersection between communication, business, data, and journalism are quite profound. His passion for professional excellence remains the guiding principle of his work, and in the course of his career spanning sectors such as administration, tourism, business management, communication and journalism, Hamilton has won key awards. He is a delightful writer, researcher and data analyst. He loves team-work, problem-solving, organizational management, communication strategy, and enjoys travelling. He can be reached at: hamilton_68@yahoo.com

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
Drama as Okpebholo Tells Peter Obi: Notify me Before Visiting Edo or Else I Can't Guarantee Your SecurityTrump Vows to Sue Rupert Murdoch as Epstein Report Opens New Rift in Their RelationshipTinubu Names IBB’s Son, Top Experts to Lead Key Nigerian Agencies2027: Labour Party Appoints Nenadi Usman as Interim National Chairperson Alleged $9.6 Billion P&ID Fraud: Fleeing Briton’s Surety Arrested, Produced In CourtWhy Oil Prices Could See a Significant Upside ShiftPresidency Announces Gov Umo Eno as APC Leader in Akwa Ibom, Sparks ReactionsBreakdown of Buhari’s Family EntitlementsThaksin touts golden visa, higher travel fees to boost ThailandDangote Refinery Halts Fuel Discount Program Over Alleged Marketers Fraud2027: Intrigues as PDP Confirms Move to Bring Peter Obi Back After Atiku’s DepartureAre You Pregnant? By Johnson Babalola2027: Buhari’s exit Cripples APC in entire North as CPC Loyalists Defect in Large NumbersDrama as 16, 17-year-olds Now Allowed to Vote In UK ElectionsSenate passes $9 billion in spending cuts to public broadcasting, foreign aid requested by Trump
X whatsapp