Four mobile policemen, eight residents killed in fresh Benue attack

Four Mobile Policemen and eight residents have reportedly been killed in a fresh attack by suspected armed herdsmen on Ayilamo community in Tombola Ward, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. 

The attackers, suspected to be armed herdsmen, reportedly invaded the farming community along the Abinsi-Tyulen-Anyii-Wukari axis.

A resident, Tyolumu Ugande, said more than 200 armed bandits entered the community through Alufu Road in Taraba State before advancing towards Ayilamo.

According to him, the attackers opened fire and set several houses ablaze while carrying sophisticated weapons.

A detachment of Mobile Policemen deployed to the community engaged the attackers in a gun battle that lasted several hours.

Ugande said the bandits eventually withdrew from the area. However, four Mobile Policemen were later found dead in the bush on Friday morning.

He said, “We also discovered eight bodies of residents of Ayilamo who were killed by the bandits.”

The Secretary of the Ayilamo Security Committee also confirmed the attack and said the community had appealed to security agencies for reinforcement.

Another resident, James Ugah, said the incident marked the second time in one month that Mobile Policemen deployed to Ayilamo had been killed.

“The bandits have been trying to set the whole Ayilamo ablaze for more than two years now. We called on security personnel, Benue and the federal government to help secure our land and lives.

“We learnt that the series of attacks on Ayilamo may not be unconnected with rumours that there are huge mineral deposits within and around Ayilamo,” he said.

Efforts to obtain confirmation from the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Orchia Aondogwu, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.