MAKURDI – The fragile peace in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State was shattered on Tuesday when suspected armed bandits launched a predawn offensive on the Abande community, resulting in the deaths of an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and four local residents.
The attack, which targeted both security personnel and civilians, reportedly occurred at the Abande market in the Mbaikyor Ward of the Turan district. According to witnesses, the gunmen arrived in large numbers, opening fire indiscriminately on traders and residents who were preparing for the day’s activities.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed the incident through its Public Relations Officer, DSP Edet Udeme. Udeme stated that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Jato-Aka had received a frantic distress call alerting the command to the presence of “armed herder bandits” who had ambushed police officers stationed in the community.
During the fierce exchange of gunfire, an ASP attached to the 13 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Makurdi, who was on a special security assignment in Abande, sustained fatal injuries. Four other members of the community were also confirmed dead following the onslaught.
Rapid Response and Deployment
In a swift reaction to the killings, the Commissioner of Police for Benue State, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, has ordered a massive deployment of tactical assets to the troubled axis. The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations has been mandated to relocate to Jato-Aka to oversee the pursuit of the perpetrators.
”Additional Mobile Force personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) have been moved to the area,” the Command stated. “We are coordinating intensive operations to track down these bandits and ensure they face the full weight of the law.”
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The bodies of the victims have been recovered and deposited at a local mortuary. Meanwhile, a combined team of police and other security agencies has been mobilized to forestall any further breakdown of law and order in the Turan district.
This latest surge in violence in Kwande comes amid a broader security crisis in the state, with local leaders calling for more permanent security installations in border communities to prevent recurring raids by armed groups.
