At least four mobile policemen and eight residents were killed when more than 200 armed bandits attacked Ayilamo, a farming community in Tombo Ward, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, on Friday, September 11, 2026. The attackers, who entered through the Alufu Road axis from neighbouring Taraba State, fired weapons and set houses on fire as they advanced, according to Tyolumun Ugande, a resident of Ayilamo.
Attack Details and Casualties
Ugande said the gunmen, carrying sophisticated weapons, engaged a detachment of mobile police officers deployed to the area. After several hours of gunfire, the bandits pulled back. On Friday morning, September 11, four bodies of mobile policemen were recovered from the bush, and eight community members were also found dead.
"We also discovered eight bodies of residents of Ayilamo who were killed by the bandits," Ugande said. The Divisional Police Officer in Ayilamo confirmed both the killings and the attack, adding, "We have asked for reinforcement."
Recurring Violence in Ayilamo
Another resident, James Udough, described the incident as the second time within a single month that mobile policemen stationed in Ayilamo had lost their lives to bandit attacks. "The bandits have been trying to set the whole Ayilamo ablaze for more than two years now. We call on the Benue and Federal Governments to help secure our land and lives," Udough said.
Ayilamo sits along the Abinsi-Tyulen-Anyiin-Wukari Road and has been subjected to multiple violent raids over the past two years. Reports indicate the repeated attacks may be connected to significant mineral deposits believed to exist within and around the community, though this link has not been officially confirmed.
Wider Security Concerns
In a separate incident, residents of Tambuwal Local Government Area in Sokoto State marched through the streets on Friday, September 11, to demand government action over a worsening security crisis marked by persistent kidnappings and armed attacks on communities in the area. The protest drew people from across parts of the local government and was sparked by mounting fear following repeated abductions and assaults attributed to armed criminals targeting rural communities.
The Benue attack underscores ongoing security challenges in rural areas, with residents calling for increased government intervention to protect lives and property.
