Breaking: armed herdsmen kill 4 police officers in Benue

At least four Mobile Police officers are feared dead following a fresh attack by armed herders on Udei community in Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State on Sunday afternoon.
Udei is located just about 15 minutes from Yelewata, another community that was attacked by armed bandits a little over two weeks ago.
According to local sources, the assailants launched the latest assault around 11 a.m., and also made an attempt to invade the neighbouring Daudu community. However, their advance was successfully repelled by a combined force of security personnel and local youths.
The attackers reportedly first stormed Asha community, firing shots indiscriminately and forcing residents off their farms. The violence then spread toward Ortese, a community that hosts thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
A source confirmed that the timely intervention of military forces stationed in the area prevented further escalation. The troops engaged the attackers in the surrounding bushes, halting their progression toward Ortese. No civilian casualties were reported in that area as a result of the intervention.
Contacted a community leader in the area and former acting Chairman of Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr Matthew Mnyan, who confirmed the development, disclosed that “the attack started at about 11 am at Asha, which is very close to Ortese. They began pursuing people from their farms, and it escalated to Ortese.
“It got to the point that the soldiers there moved in with their armoured truck, and when it became intense, they moved in another armoured truck, and they engaged them for up to one hour in the bush.
And before you knew it, they started moving and shooting at Dudu, which is before Daudu.
“When I got the information, I immediately called the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, who took his men there to repel them.
“In what looked like a coordinated attack, they also attacked Udei at about 2 pm, and four Mobile Policemen were killed in the shootout.
“I was told that they are still around even now. They have reappeared at Ortese this evening. As we speak, people are in fear.
“When I called the Area Commander he said he has mobilised to Udei and I learnt they went in their numbers but it is getting dark and people are entertaining fear. Even the IDPs in Ortese are all in fear and calling that they need more security.”
This latest wave of attacks came about 16 days after a similar attack on the neighbouring Yelewata community claimed over 200 lives, with many hospitalized and many others displaced.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent, DSP, Udeme Edet were unsuccessful. She did not pick up her calls and also did not reply to her text messages.