A Sunday afternoon attack by armed herders on Udei community in Benue State’s Guma Local Government Area has left at least four Mobile Police officers dead, according to local sources.
The violence occurred just 16 days after a similar assault on nearby Yelewata community claimed over 200 lives.
The attackers, who struck around 11 am, first targeted Asha community before moving toward Ortese settlement, home to thousands of Internally Displaced Persons.
A military intervention reportedly prevented casualties in Ortese, with soldiers engaging the assailants for nearly an hour using armored vehicles.
“The attack started at about 11 am at Asha, which is very close to Ortese,” confirmed Matthew Mnyan, former acting Chairman of Benue State Universal Basic Education Board. “They began pursuing people from their farms, and it escalated to Ortese. The soldiers there moved in with their armored truck, and when it became intense, they deployed another armored truck.”
The violence then shifted toward Daudu, where local youths and security forces repelled the attackers. However, a coordinated afternoon assault on Udei proved deadly.
“They attacked Udei at about 2 pm, and four Mobile Policemen were killed in the shootout,” Mnyan disclosed. “I was told that they are still around even now. They have reappeared at Ortese this evening. As we speak, people are in fear.”
Security reinforcements were mobilized as darkness fell, with the Area Commander leading personnel to Udei. Mnyan expressed concern for the IDPs, stating, “Even the IDPs in Ortese are all in fear and calling that they need more security.”
Police authorities had not responded to inquiries at press time, as the Force Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, neither answered calls nor replied to text messages. The latest violence compounds security challenges in the region, coming just over two weeks after the deadly Yelewata massacre that left hundreds dead or displaced.
