Benue: Death toll hits 10 as police assess deadly attack on Abande community

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that the number of casualties from the violent attack on Abande community in Kwande Local Government Area has increased to 10, with five residents yet to be accounted for.

Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Okon Asuquo, led a reinforcement and assessment team to the affected border community on February 4 at about 5:10 p.m.

The visit followed the assault, which reportedly took place on February 3 around 3:20 p.m. during the community’s market day.

Members of the assessment delegation included officials of the Benue State Government, the Director-General of Homeland Security and the Chairman of Kwande Local Government Area. Access to the community was, however, challenging due to the difficult terrain and the area’s closeness to the Cameroon border and Taraba State.

During the on-the-spot evaluation, security personnel recovered two more bodies, raising the confirmed death toll to 10.

The deceased were subsequently transported to the Jato-Aka Mortuary.

According to police, the President of the Nyier-Ya Development Association, Dr Joseph Hembafer Akanyi, who addressed the team on behalf of the community, alleged that certain groups across the Mengeh Mountain had been collaborating with armed Fulani bandits to launch repeated attacks on Abande over the years.

Responding to the concerns, DCP Asuquo reassured residents of the commitment of security agencies to safeguard lives and property, emphasising the importance of a continuous police and military presence along the Nigeria–Cameroon border to cut off suspected infiltration routes used by criminal elements.

He also called on youths in the area to remain peaceful, avoid retaliatory actions and support ongoing security efforts by cooperating with the tactical units deployed.

“As of now, five persons are still missing, and search-and-rescue operations are ongoing,” a police source said.

Traditional leaders, community elders and youths, including Zaaku Zegelu Yengen and Zaaki Agba, were present during the assessment visit.

The police command noted that the situation in the community remained relatively calm, with surveillance and security operations still in progress.