Picture Credit: BBC
By Ayo Kehinde
The Benue Command of the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the killing of 13 persons and the rustling of 20 cattle in a deadly bandit attack on Efeyi Ugboju community in Otukpo Local Government Area, as security operatives launched a counter-offensive that left two suspected attackers dead.
The bloodshed, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, is the latest in a series of violent attacks to hit Benue State, where armed bandits, cattle rustlers and farmer-herder conflicts have continued to threaten lives and livelihoods.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, said the armed men invaded the community with the sole objective of rustling cattle belonging to a resident, Peter Ambulus.
According to the police, a distress call was received shortly after the attack, prompting the immediate deployment of tactical operatives to the affected community.
Preliminary investigations revealed that after rustling the cattle, the attackers opened fire on farmers they encountered while escaping through the surrounding bush.
“The armed bandits invaded the community with the sole intention of rustling cattle belonging to one Peter Ambulus. While escaping with the rustled cattle, the assailants opened fire on farmers they encountered in the bush”, the statement read.
The command confirmed that 13 persons were killed during the attack, while the gunmen escaped with 20 cattle.
Following the attack, the Commissioner of Police, Benue Command, CP Cletus C.N. Nwadiogbu, personally led tactical teams on an operational visit to the community to coordinate efforts to track down the perpetrators.
The police said the operatives came under ambush from suspected members of the cattle rustling syndicate, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire.
During the operation, two suspected bandits were neutralised, while security operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle and 15 rounds of live ammunition.
The command added that tactical teams have continued intensive clearance operations in surrounding forests and neighbouring communities to arrest fleeing suspects, recover the stolen cattle and dismantle the criminal gang responsible for the attack.
CP Nwadiogbu condemned the attack and extended condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones, describing the killings as senseless and unacceptable. He directed all tactical commanders to sustain the ongoing operations until every member of the criminal syndicate is apprehended and prosecuted.
The police commissioner also assured citizens that additional security measures had been put in place to restore normalcy in Efeyi Ugboju and neighbouring communities, urging members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible intelligence to support ongoing investigations.
