No fewer than four police officers were killed on Sunday afternoon during a deadly invasion by suspected armed herders on Udei community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Reports indicate that the attack began around 11 a.m., with the invaders also attempting to overrun neighbouring Daudu. However, they were repelled by a combined force of security operatives and local youths.
The herders reportedly stormed Asha community, firing sporadically and forcing residents to flee for safety. The violence spread towards Ortese, home to thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
A local source said military intervention stopped the assailants from breaching Ortese, preventing further casualties.
Confirming the incident, a community leader and former acting Chairman of Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, Matthew Mnyan, said: “The attack started at about 11 am at Asha, which is very close to Ortese. They began pursuing people from their farms, and it escalated to Ortese.
“It got to the point that the soldiers there moved in with their armoured truck, and when it became intense, they moved in another armoured truck, and they engaged them for up to one hour in the bush.
“And before you knew it, they started moving and shooting at Dudu, which is before Daudu.
“When I got the information, I immediately called the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, who took his men there to repel them.
“In what looked like a coordinated attack, they also attacked Udei at about 2 pm, and four Mobile Policemen were killed in the shootout.
“I was told that they are still around even now. They have reappeared at Ortese this evening. As we speak, people are in fear.
“When I called the Area Commander, he said he has mobilised to Udei and I learnt they went in their numbers, but it is getting dark and people are entertaining fear. Even the IDPs in Ortese are all in fear and calling that they need more security.”
