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The deadly ambush scale last Friday in the state of Benue has deteriorated, because eight bodies of police officers have been found, following violence attacks against the joint security team in the Katsina-ala regional government.
The Nigerian police operator teams and Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG)-reportedly ambushed by the combined power of armed shepherd and local militia groups during the cleaning operation between TSE Agbami and AGU Center, the border area between Katsina-ala and Lgas Ukum.
The initial report shows that 16 personnel were killed, with others missing. The attackers not only opened fire but also burned operational trucks and carried motorbikes and weapons belonging to the security forces.
Only three bodies were found on Saturday after the ambush, but a sustainable search led by the Benue State Police Command has now found eight more bodies, bringing the death toll confirmed to 11 police officers.
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Speaking from the field on Monday, the Chairman of Katsina-ala Lga, Justine Shaku, confirmed the gloomy discovery: “Eight dead police officers were found on Sunday night. This brought the number to 11. Police Commissioner, Ifey Emenari, was here with me, even though the atmosphere was still tense and unfriendly.
Apart from the increasing number of victims and greater concerns over the courage of the attackers, the Benue State Police Command has not issued an official statement about the ambush – one of the most deadly attacks on security forces in the region in recent years.
The insolent and real coordination of attacks between armed hedgens and local militias have triggered a new concern about the deeper security crisis in the Nigerian central belt area.
With more officers who are still missing and the situation described as “tense and unfriendly,” security agents are under pressure to intensify search and rescue operations while overcoming a broader threat caused by non-armed state actors both in the area.
At the time of this report, searching efforts for the remaining lost officers and the recovery of stolen equipment are ongoing.
