Benue Ambush: Cops Dead, Missing

The Nigerian police have verified that three officers were killed and seven are missing following a fatal ambush on their Tactical Teams in ...

The Nigerian police have verified that three officers were killed and seven are missing following a fatal ambush on their Tactical Teams in Benue State.

On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, a comparable assault took place in Egbe, a town situated in the Yagba West Local Government Area close to the Kwara State border, resulting in the deaths of three officers who were ambushed at a security post.

William Aya, the Kogi State Police representative, verified that the command had lost three officers on Sunday. Simultaneously, CP Miller Dantawaye, the state's Commissioner of Police, announced the dispatch of a specialized tactical unit to the location.

According to a statement released on Sunday by CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Force Public Relations Officer, the police reported that the event took place on Friday, September 19, 2025, at Agu Centre, Katsina-Ala/Ukum Local Government Area, where “suspected armed herdsmen and local militias” initiated the assault.

According to the police representative, six individuals have been taken into custody as part of an active response effort and are "providing helpful details."

Following a fatal attack on Police Tactical Teams in Benue State, allegedly carried out by armed herdsmen and local militias at Agu Centre, Katsina-Ala/Ukum Local Government Area, the Nigeria Police Force has apprehended six individuals as part of their continuing response efforts.

The assault, happening on Friday, 19 September 2025, led to the deaths of three members of the police force, and seven remain unaccounted for.

The statement indicated that the Benue State Commissioner of Police, CP Innocent Ifeanyi Emenari, is presently in charge of the effort to save the missing officers and apprehend the suspects who are on the run.

In the meantime, Police Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun characterized the attack as "cruel, unwarranted, and an affront on the good people of Benue State."

He commanded that more tactical resources be sent to the unstable region, promising that "no stone will be left unturned in restoring peace and security in Benue State."

The individuals apprehended are being held by authorities and providing helpful details.

The Inspector-General has also ordered more tactical resources to be sent to the region and guaranteed the state government that every possible effort will be made to bring back peace and security to Benue State," the statement continued.

The authorities have asked the public to stay composed, alert, and helpful as they continue working to save the missing individuals and break up the criminal organizations responsible for the assault.

Nevertheless, at least eight security officers remain unaccounted for following a security sweep conducted in the Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to a report, 11 security personnel drawn from the police and state security personnel known as the Civil Protection Guards under the code name, ‘Anyam Nyór’, were reported to have embarked on a clearance operation at the Agu Centre, a rural settlement in the Mbatyula Council Ward of Katsina-Ala LGA.

PUNCH MetroIt was understood that the security team, headed by an Assistant Superintendent of Police widely recognized in the region as Dan Zuru, was caught in an ambush by well-equipped local outlaws and cattlemen.

A former chairman of the Local Government Area, who did not want to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak to the journalists, said that the incident happened late Friday, adding that three security officers were killed and eight others were missing.

“You know that our area is volatile (Sankera area). So, we have stationed security operatives here who have been combating these enemies.

“We learnt that on Friday, the security personnel under the Anyam Nyór went on a clearance operation but were ambushed by local militias in conjunction with the Fulani and killed all of them.

“So far, three corpses of the security personnel have been recovered as of this morning (Sunday),” the former chairman said.

Meanwhile, the incumbent LGA chairman, Shaku Justine, who spoke to journalists on Sunday, confirmed the incident through a phone conversation.

He said, “Yes. Some security operatives were attacked by cattle herders yesterday while they were on joint patrol; two bodies were recovered past 11pm last night.

While it's uncertain if all 11 individuals perished, a search party has been sent to the location. Confirmation will come upon their return.

“The two patrol vehicles they were in were burnt down; an eyewitness said the attackers were more than 1000, they came in large numbers.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state command, DSP Udeme Edet, promised to issue a statement to the effect but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

The region of Sankera, which includes the Local Government Areas of Katsina Ala, Logo, and Ukum, was formerly controlled by Terwase Akwanza, also known as Gana, and has been a hotspot for criminal activity for a number of years.

Despite the killing of Gana by the military in 2020, the area is yet to know peace as his armies that had been split into several groups in collaboration with external forces, such as armed herders, have been terrorising the three councils.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).