The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that 13 residents were killed and several others injured in an attack on Efeyi Community in Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area, as security agencies intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, also displaced many residents, forcing families to flee their homes for safety, while emergency responders and local volunteers continued search-and-rescue operations in the affected community.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State Command, DSP Edet Udeme, said police tactical teams, alongside other security agencies, had been deployed to the area to restore normalcy and prevent further attacks.
“The attack occurred in Efeyi Community, Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area. Police tactical teams and other security agencies have been deployed to the area to restore normalcy and prevent further attacks. The Command assures residents that efforts are underway to apprehend those responsible,” Udeme said.
The police spokesman disclosed that 13 bodies had so far been recovered from the community, while several injured residents were receiving treatment at medical facilities.
“Thirteen bodies have been recovered, while several other residents sustained varying degrees of injuries during the attack. The injured victims are receiving medical attention,” he added.
According to the Command, security operatives have intensified operations in and around the affected area to forestall any further violence and ensure the safety of residents.
Community sources, however, said the attackers, described as heavily armed, stormed Efeyi Community before dawn, opened fire on residents and left a trail of destruction before fleeing the area.
The attack triggered panic across the community, with many residents abandoning their homes for safer locations as security personnel and emergency responders continued efforts to account for missing persons and provide assistance to victims.
The police assured residents that every effort was being made to identify, track and arrest those behind the attack, urging members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could aid ongoing investigations.
“The Command remains committed to protecting lives and property and will continue to work with other security agencies to ensure those responsible for this attack are brought to justice,” Udeme stated.
Investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The latest attack comes amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government and security agencies to stem the wave of violence that has claimed scores of lives across Benue State in recent weeks.
Last week, Governor Hyacinth Alia hosted a high-level security stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, attended by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community representatives and other security chiefs, where participants called for decisive action against armed criminal groups operating in the state.
At the meeting, the Inspector-General announced a 14-day clearance operation targeting forests and identified criminal hideouts across Benue, describing the persistent attacks as unacceptable. He also warned against the unlawful possession of firearms, stressing that police officers had been directed to act within the provisions of Force Order 237 when confronted by armed criminals.
The Nigeria Police Force later clarified that the remarks did not amount to a blanket “shoot-on-sight” order but were a restatement of existing rules governing the lawful use of firearms.
The stakeholders’ meeting followed a series of deadly attacks in parts of Benue South Senatorial District, including communities in Otukpo Local Government Area, which prompted the Senate to urge the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible. Despite increased deployments of security personnel, attacks have continued in some communities, underscoring the security challenges confronting the state
