Gunmen suspected to be herders have killed a police inspector and another civilian in Ikyac-Gev Village, located along the North Bank area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed the incident on Tuesday, stating that the attack took place on Monday.
Inspector Igba Terwase Timothy, attached to the Works Department at the Police Headquarters in Makurdi, was returning from his village after receiving treatment for a knee injury when he was ambushed.
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According to sources cited by Zagazola Makama, the inspector’s younger brother, Igba Aondogu, reported the attack to the ‘C’ Division Police Station, prompting a swift response. Officers were immediately deployed to the scene, where they recovered the bodies of the inspector and an unidentified civilian.
In a follow-up operation, the state’s Commissioner of Police dispatched operatives of Operation Zenda, a tactical unit, to comb the area. The team traced the attackers to a suspected herders’ encampment, where they came under fire. A gun battle ensued, and the suspects were eventually forced to flee.
During the raid, police apprehended a 12-year-old boy identified as Dahiru Eti, believed to be one of the assailants’ junior accomplices. He was taken into custody and is reportedly cooperating with investigators to track down the fleeing attackers.
The Benue State Police Command has pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice and has increased patrols and surveillance across the region to prevent further violence.
