A deadly ambush by suspected armed herdsmen and local militia gangs has resulted in the deaths of over 16 security operatives, with several others missing in Benue State’s Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.
The incident occurred during an operation to flush out armed herdsmen in the Agu Centre area.
A local source according to Vanguard said over 90 security operatives, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Danlami Usman, popularly known as “Dan Zuru,” were moving into the area to flush out armed herdsmen when they were ambushed.
“The armed herdsmen joined forces with known local militia gangs, numbering close to 1,000. Unknown to the security team, they laid an ambush between Tse Agbami and Agu Centre, on the Katsina-Ala/Ukum border.
“They drove into the ambush and, in the exchange of gunfire, over 16 members of the team were killed. Several others were captured, including ASP Dan Zuru, who had been leading the fight against armed herdsmen and bandits in Sankera (Ukum, Logo, Katsina-Ala).
“We have tried calling his line, but the person who picks speaks another language. His capture is a tragedy because he was the backbone of security operations in Sankera”, the source said.
Diaspora Digital Media understand that the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Innocent Ifeanyi Emenari, spent Saturday in Katsina-Ala, leading recovery efforts.
Also, in a follow-up development, the Nigeria Police Force said on Sunday that its special tactical team has arrested six suspects linked to the deadly ambush.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, condemned the attack, describing it as “cruel, unwarranted, and an affront on the good people of Benue State.”
He has ordered the deployment of additional tactical assets to Benue State to dismantle criminal networks and restore peace in the area.
