PANIC has gripped Benue State once again after a deadly attack by suspected herdsmen left four police officers feared dead in Udei community yesterday.
Local sources told newsmen that the officers had responded to a distress call from residents, only to walk into an ambush.
Upon arrival, the officers reportedly advised local youths to retreat, believing there was no immediate threat in the area.
In an attempt to ward off potential attackers, the police fired warning shots into the air—only to come under direct fire from gunmen believed to be herdsmen lying in wait.
“At about 3 pm, when the mobile police arrived, we warned them the armed herdsmen were close by,” a resident said. “But they didn’t believe us. As soon as they fired warning shots, the herdsmen opened fire, killing four officers on the spot.”
The attack triggered mass panic, forcing residents of Udei and nearby communities such as Ortese and Daudu to flee, amid heavy gunfire between the armed invaders and joint security forces led by the Nigerian Army.
Udei is located just a few kilometres from Yelwata, the site of a deadly attack on June 13 where scores of villagers were killed in a similar manner. The repeated violence has heightened fears of insecurity and displacement in the region.
As of the time of this report, the Benue State Police Command has yet to release an official statement, despite repeated inquiries to its spokesperson, SP Udeme Edet.