A police officer and four civilians have been killed following an attack by suspected armed herders on Abande community in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
The spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, Udeme Edet, confirmed on Wednesday that the attack occurred on Tuesday. He dismissed reports claiming that as many as 16 people were killed, stating that confirmed fatalities stood at five.
According to Edet, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to the 13 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Makurdi, who was on special duty in Abande community, was fatally injured during the assault.
“The Divisional Police Officer in Jato-Aka received a distress call that suspected armed herder bandits, in large numbers, had attacked police personnel stationed in Abande community, as well as residents of the area,” Edet said.
“Regrettably, four members of the community also lost their lives in the attack.”
He said a joint team of police operatives and other security agencies had been deployed to the area to secure the community, carry out a comprehensive search operation, and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
Edet added that the bodies of the deceased have been recovered and deposited in a mortuary, while security presence in the area has been reinforced.
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to proceed to the affected community. Emenari also expressed condolences to the families of the victims and residents of Abande, assuring them that efforts were underway to apprehend those responsible and restore peace.
The attack comes amid ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to prosecute nine suspected terrorists linked to a previous assault on Yelwata community in Benue State, where about 150 people were reportedly killed.
On Monday, the Federal Government filed 57 amended charges against the suspects. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who is leading the prosecution, presented the charges before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He also sought the court’s approval to strike out the name of one of the defendants, Yakubu Mamman, from the amended charge.
