The Benue State Police Command has confirmed a violent attack carried out by suspected armed bandits on police personnel and residents of Abande Community, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State which claimed 5 lives.
A statement by the force public relations officer Edet Udeme disclosed that on 3rd February, 2026, at about 17:30hr, the Divisional Police Officer, Jato-Aka, received a distress call that suspected armed herder bandits, in large numbers, had attacked police personnel stationed at Abande Community as well as members of the community.
She said during the ensuing confrontation while police operatives were responding to the distress call, one Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to 13 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Makurdi, who was on special duty at Abande Community, was fatally injured during the attack.
Regrettably, four members of the community also lost their lives as a result of the attack by the bandits, Edet added
The PPRO said following the incident, combined teams of police operatives and other security agencies have been mobilized to the area to secure the community, conduct a thorough search, and forestall further breakdown of law and order.
Accordingly, the bodies have been recovered and deposited at the mortuary.
In response to the attack, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations to immediately proceed to Jato-Aka with additional Mobile Force personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to coordinate intensive operations, track the perpetrators, and effect their arrest.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
