The Benue State Command of the Nigeria Police has confirmed that five persons have been killed in a “violent attack carried out by suspected armed bandits on police personnel and residents of Abande Community, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.”
Local sources say 17 people have been killed in the attack, which occurred on February 3. TNT could not independently verify the number of casualties.
However, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Edet Udeme, in a statement on February 4, confirmed that “One Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to 13 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Makurdi, who was on special duty at Abande Community, was fatally injured during the attack.”
She added that “four members of the community also lost their lives as a result of the attack by the bandits.
According to DSP Udeme, combined teams of police operatives and other security agencies have been mobilised to the area to secure the community, conduct a thorough search, and forestall further breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in the state has proceeded to Jato-Aka with additional Mobile Force personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to coordinate intensive operations, track the perpetrators, and effect their arrest.
