Two Mobile Police officers recently posted to Ayilamo in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State have been killed in a fresh ambush, taking to six the number of policemen reportedly killed in the community within three days.
The latest incident happened at about 6pm on Monday as the officers were travelling to meet the Divisional Police Officer of Ayilamo, who was on his way back to the community from Makurdi.
The personnel were reportedly caught in an attack along the route. Their names had not been released as of Tuesday, while details surrounding the identities of the attackers remained unclear.
Confirming the incident, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, said two policemen lost their lives in the attack.
Aondongu, who spoke with journalists by telephone from Makurdi on Tuesday, said the DPO’s convoy was attacked while returning from Makurdi to Ayilamo.
The incident followed Friday’s deadly assault on the community, during which four Mobile Police officers and seven civilians were reportedly killed.
Residents claimed the latest assault was carried out by armed men believed to be operating from surrounding forests and abandoned settlements in Tombo Council Ward of the local government area.
They raised concerns about the continued presence and movement of suspected armed groups through the forests and deserted communities, urging security agencies to intensify surveillance and operations in the area.
The successive attacks have renewed fears among residents of Ayilamo, who called for sustained security intervention to prevent further loss of lives and protect both civilians and security personnel deployed to the community.