Fulani herdsmen kill 4 policemen in Benue, many others missing

Armed Fulani herdsmen on Sunday night laid an ambush for men of the Nigerian Police officers deployed to Logo local government area of Benue state for peacekeeping killing four of them and eleven others missing.

The slain officers, New Telegraph gathered were moving from Anyibe to Ayilamo for their routine assignment when they got entangled with the killer herdsmen at about 7: 00 pm who opened fire on them and killed them.

One of the police officers who was said to have escaped the gunshots according to local residents had retreated to inform his colleagues whose swift response to go after the killers landed themselves into a waiting ambush.

A resident from the local government area who pleaded anonymity said, eleven officers were missing that fateful night and called on the Federal government “to declare the killers a terrorist group”.

No fewer than 15 police officers have so far been allegedly killed in Benue alone this year by the Fulani insurgents in series of attacks.

The incident wraps weeks of deadly attacks that had left scores of people killed in the state, including about 67 people murdered in cold blood in neighbouring Ukum local government area.

Chairman of Logo local government, Mr. Richard Nyajo said many police officers were massacred during the attack in Tombo village which comprised Anyibe and Ayilamo after they were entangled by the killer herdsmen.

Mr. Nyajo said the attack saw massive exodus of local residents including women and children fleeing from their homes with little luggage on their heads to areas considered to be safe.

The state Police Command has also confirmed the killing of four of their personnel by the insurgents.

Police Public Relations officer in the state, Moses Yamu in a statement said “the command regret to report that its personnel came under attack of insurgents at Anyibe, Logo local government of the state between 1800hrs of Sunday night and early hours of yesterday (Monday).

The police spokesman who said four casualties had been recorded, noted that the command had reinforced its operations including the Air Asset of the Police deployed by the Inspector General of Police in pursuit of the murderous gang.

The command expressed its readiness to apprehend the killers with their weapons of destruction and made to face the full wrath of the law.


NewTelegraph