Gunmen suspected to be loyal to notorious Benue warlord Terwase Akwaza (aka “Gana”) reportedly raided the Tse Harga community in Katsina-Ala, killing a police officer in the attack.
Troops of military Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) in collaboration with the police, however, neutralised one of the suspects who was caught with over 200 rounds of ammunition.
The targeted community, Tse Harga, is part of the Sankera axis of Benue where loyalists of the deceased militiaman have been holding sway, a development that has compelled the State Government to place a dusk-to-dawn curfew as well as a ban on the use of motorcycles and Toyota Corollas, popularly known as “Duck Yansh”, to avert further criminal and armed bandit incursions into the area.
Sources from the Harga community who spoke to reporters on the telephone but asked to remain anonymous said the attackers arrived at about 4 am while the people were asleep.
“We noticed the presence of the attackers and we quickly alerted the DPO who also mobilised and swiftly moved to the area to find out what was happening,’ the source said.
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“Unfortunately, as soon as they sighted the policemen, the gunmen opened fire on them, killing one of the policemen in the process.
“It was at that point that we quickly alerted troops of OPWS who were stationed at Gbishe close to us here in Harga, and they wasted no time in responding to our calls.”
Confirming the report, Council Chairman of Katsina-Ala Alfred Atera disclosed that one policeman was killed in the attack, with the police station and some houses burnt by the attackers.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command has confirmed the attack on Tse Harga and the killing of the policeman.
Spokeswoman, Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident, said the details of the attack was still sketchy.
( Editor: Omor Bazuaye)
