A police officer and four residents were killed in an assault by suspected armed herders in Abande Community, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, officials said Wednesday.
The Benue State Police Command spokesman, Udeme Edet, said the attack occurred Tuesday and targeted an Assistant Superintendent of Police attached to the 13 Police Mobile Force, who was on special duty in the area. The Divisional Police Officer received a distress call that bandits had attacked both police personnel and local residents.
A combined team of police and other security agencies has been deployed to secure the community, conduct thorough searches, and prevent further violence. The victims’ bodies have been recovered and deposited at the mortuary. Commissioner of Police Ifeanyi Emenari extended condolences to the families and the community, pledging efforts to bring the attackers to justice.
The attack comes amid the ongoing prosecution of nine suspected terrorists linked to the deadly Yelwata attack in Benue State, in which about 150 people were killed. The Federal Government recently filed 57 amended charges against the suspects in the Federal High Court in Abuja.
