Fresh Bandit Attack Claims Lives in Benue State
In a tragic development that underscores the persistent security challenges in Nigeria's Middle Belt region, armed bandits have launched another deadly assault in Benue State. The attack, which occurred in the Abande community within Kwande Local Government Area, resulted in the loss of five lives, including that of a police officer.
Police Confirm Casualties and Mobilize Response
The Benue State Police Command has officially confirmed the incident through a statement issued by spokesperson Edet Udeme on Wednesday, February 4. According to the police account, the divisional police officer in Jato-Aka received information on Tuesday, February 3, about an attack by suspected armed bandits targeting both police personnel stationed in the community and local residents.
During the violent confrontation, one Assistant Superintendent of Police attached to the 13 Police Mobile Force in Makurdi sustained fatal injuries while on special duty at Abande Community. Tragically, four members of the community also lost their lives in the same attack, bringing the total death toll to five individuals.
Security Forces Launch Intensive Operations
In response to the deadly incident, combined teams of police operatives and other security agencies have been mobilized to the affected area. Their mission encompasses multiple critical objectives:
- Securing the vulnerable community against further attacks
- Conducting thorough search operations in the vicinity
- Forestalling any additional breakdown of law and order
The deceased victims have been recovered from the scene and deposited at a mortuary for proper handling. Police Commissioner Ifeanyi Emenari has taken decisive action by directing the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations to immediately proceed to Jato-Aka with additional mobile force personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers.
Coordinated Effort to Apprehend Perpetrators
The police leadership has established clear operational directives for the security response. The deployed forces are specifically tasked with:
- Coordinating intensive security operations in the affected region
- Tracking the perpetrators responsible for the violence
- Effecting the arrest of those involved in the attack
Police spokesperson Udeme emphasized that the Benue State Police Command extends its condolences to the families of the deceased and the entire Abande Community. The command has assured the public that all necessary measures are being implemented to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore lasting peace to the troubled area.
Context of Persistent Security Challenges
This latest attack occurs against a backdrop of recurring violence in Nigeria's central regions, particularly in Benue State. The area has experienced persistent clashes between nomadic herders and settled farming communities, often fueled by competition over land resources and grazing rights.
Farmers frequently accuse herders, predominantly of Fulani origin, of allowing their livestock to graze on cultivated farmlands, resulting in significant crop destruction. Meanwhile, herders maintain that they are utilizing traditional grazing routes that were legally recognized decades ago, creating an ongoing tension that sometimes escalates into violent confrontations.
The security situation in Benue remains fragile, with this incident representing just one in a series of attacks that have plagued the state in recent years. The deployment of combined security forces and armored vehicles indicates the seriousness with which authorities are treating this latest outbreak of violence.
