11 KILLED AS ARMED HERDSMEN ATTACK BENUE COMMUNITY

At least 11 people, comprising four police officers and seven civilians, have been killed following an attack on Ayilamo community in the Tombo Council Ward of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The assault reportedly occurred between Thursday night and the early hours of Friday, with residents claiming that the attackers entered the community through Alufu Road from neighbouring Taraba State.

The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, confirmed the casualties in a telephone interview on Friday, stating that four policemen and seven civilians were killed.

Aondongu said the command would issue an official statement on the incident.

Residents said the attackers, suspected to be armed herders, invaded the community in large numbers, shooting at residents and setting several houses on fire.

A resident, Tyolumun Ugande, alleged that about 200 armed men stormed Ayilamo and engaged a team of Mobile Police officers deployed to the area in a prolonged gun battle.

According to him, the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons and eventually withdrew from the community after several hours of fighting.

Ugande said the bodies of four victims, including Mobile Police personnel and residents, were recovered from the surrounding bush on Friday morning.

The Secretary of the Ayilamo Security Committee, Umishi Terungwa, also described the incident as devastating, saying the casualties included community elders, residents and security personnel.

Terungwa identified some of the civilian victims as Baba Nyikyaa Mbanengen Agia, Mkohol Ahowe, Agah Saanmoyol, popularly known as Dodo, Baba Mlahaga Kpurkpur, Geoffrey Aondoakaa Gaku, also known as Bala, and two children.

The four Mobile Police officers killed in the attack were identified as ASP Paul Ina, Inspector Mohammed Yusuf, Inspector Oge Ikechukwu and Inspector Edeh Andrew.

While an initial account from the community had put the death toll at 12, comprising four police officers and eight civilians, the police later confirmed that seven civilians and four officers were killed, bringing the official toll to 11.

The latest attack has further raised security concerns in the area, amid recurring violence involving armed groups and communities in parts of Benue State.