A deadly attack by suspected armed herders on Sunday afternoon claimed the lives of at least four police officers in Udei, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The assault, which began around 11:00 a.m., reportedly spread across multiple communities including Asha, Ortese, and Dudu, with an attempted incursion into Daudu thwarted by the prompt intervention of security forces and local vigilantes.
Eyewitnesses stated that the herders, armed and aggressive, stormed Asha community and fired sporadically, forcing residents to flee in panic. The violence extended to Ortese, home to thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), though military intervention prevented further escalation or casualties in that area.
According to a local leader, Mr. Matthew Mnyan, a former acting Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, soldiers deployed armoured vehicles and engaged the assailants for nearly an hour in the bush to protect Ortese. He recounted that the assailants later moved towards Dudu, intensifying fears of a broader coordinated attack.
“At about 2:00 p.m., they launched another wave of attacks in Udei, where four Mobile Policemen were tragically killed during an exchange of gunfire,” Mnyan confirmed.
He added that the threat persists, noting that the assailants were sighted again in Ortese later in the day, creating palpable fear among the residents and IDPs.
The Area Commander has reportedly deployed additional personnel to Udei, but residents continue to call for reinforcements as night falls and tension remains high.
