THREE SECURITY OPERATIVES MISSING, TWO INJURED IN HERDSMEN AMBUSH ON JOINT PATROL TEAM IN BENUE
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
A joint security patrol team came under heavy attack by suspected armed herdsmen in Benue State on Monday, leaving two officers seriously injured and three others missing.
According to a situation report from the Benue State Police Command, the ambush occurred at approximately 2:19 p.m. along the Daudu–Uikohol Expressway in Guma Local Government Area a region frequently plagued by herdsmen-related violence.
The affected team was composed of operatives from various security agencies, including the Police Mobile Force (13 PMF and 58 PMF), State Intelligence Services (SIS), Operation Zenda, Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Benue State Civil Protection Guards, and local vigilantes. The patrol was on a routine operation when the team noticed smoke rising from burning houses about two kilometres off the expressway.
Upon advancing to investigate the suspected arson, the team walked into an ambush. Armed men, believed to be herdsmen, opened fire as they continued torching huts in the village.
In the ensuing gun battle, a police inspector and an NSCDC officer sustained gunshot wounds and were promptly evacuated to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.
However, the attack took a graver turn as another police inspector and two NSCDC personnel were declared missing following the incident. A coordinated search-and-rescue operation has since been launched to locate the missing officers.
The attack adds to a growing list of violent incidents in Benue, especially in Guma LGA, where clashes between local communities and suspected armed herders have persisted despite several security interventions.
Authorities have condemned the ambush and assured the public of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of security operatives and civilians in the affected areas.
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