The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to the 13 Police Mobile Force, Makurdi, was among five people killed in a deadly attack carried out by gunmen in Abande community, Kwande Local Government Area of the state.
The confirmation was given by theBenue Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edet Udeme, in a statement released on Wednesday in Makurdi. She said the other four victims were residents of the community.
According to Udeme, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Jato-Aka, Kwande LGA, received a distress call on February 3 reporting that suspected armed bandits had attacked police personnel deployed to Abande community, as well as local inhabitants.
She explained that the ASP, who was on a special assignment in the area, sustained fatal injuries during the assault, while four civilians were also killed. Udeme added that security operatives have since been deployed to the community to forestall further attacks.
“Following the incident, combined teams of police operatives and other security agencies have been mobilised to the area to secure the community, conduct a thorough search, and forestall further breakdown of law and order.
“The deceased persons have been recovered and deposited at the mortuary.”
Udeme added that the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Mr Ifeanyi Emenari, has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations to immediately take charge of the situation in Jato-Aka.
“He is directed to go with additional mobile force personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to coordinate intensive operations, track the perpetrators, and effect their arrest.
“The Benue State Police Command commiserates with the families of the deceased and the Abande Community and assures the public that all necessary measures are being taken to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore peace to the area,” she said.
