Suspected armed Fulani herdsmen on Monday ambushed a joint security patrol team in Benue State, injuring several personnel and leaving three operatives missing.
According to a statement from the Benue State Police Command, the incident occurred at approximately 2:19 p.m. along the Daudu–Uikohol Expressway in Guma Local Government Area.
The team—comprising officers from the Police Mobile Force (13 PMF and 58 PMF), State Intelligence Services (SIS), Operation Zenda, Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Benue State Civil Protection Guards, and local vigilantes—was on routine patrol when they observed smoke emanating from huts about two kilometres off the expressway.
Upon approaching the scene, the operatives were ambushed by the suspected herdsmen believed to have set fire to the structures.
During the confrontation, Inspector Ochepo Benjamin (AP/No. 266789) and one NSCDC operative sustained gunshot injuries and were evacuated to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, for treatment.
However, Inspector Muhammed Abdullahi (AP/No. 196271) and two NSCDC personnel were declared missing in the aftermath of the attack.
Security forces have since initiated a coordinated search-and-rescue operation to locate and recover the missing operatives.
