Armed herders killed a soldier and a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officer in Udeku, Turan area, Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State.
Mr. Lawrence Akerigba, a community leader in the volatile area, verified the occurrence on Saturday, claiming that the onslaught forced dozens of locals to escape.
According to Akerigba, the attack has halted all commercial and social activities in the area.
Our correspondent learned that the murdered security personnel were among those dispatched to the area to help maintain calm in the face of frequent attacks by suspected armed herders in the local government.
The officers who were killed were reportedly returning from Aga Market, where they had gone on a motorcycle to refill their cooking gas.
“Unfortunately, on their way back, they ran into a roadblock mounted by Fulani militants who were attacking the community,” a source said.
“They took them unawares, opened fire on them, and killed them instantly,” the source added.
According to further accounts, adolescents in the neighborhood instantly mobilized, combed the forest, and recovered the burnt bodies of the deceased officers, which were sent to the mortuary in Jato Aka.
It was also revealed that the alleged herders had entered the area last week, killing five farmers in cold blood.
A senior military commander with Operation Whirl Stroke, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to a lack of formal authorization to speak to the press, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Sunday.
“Yes, a soldier was killed, and he was an aircraftman,” the officer said.
DSP Udeme Edet, The Police Public Relations Officer in the state also confirmed the incident but clarified that no police officer was involved.
“No police officer was killed, but regrettably an officer from our sister agency did not make it,” Edet said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Michael Ejelikwu, the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, confirmed the incident on Sunday.
Ejelikwu said, “Yes, unfortunately, I can confirm to you that at about 1500 hours on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Fulani militias attacked three security personnel attached to Operation Whirl Stroke and killed two of them.
“The unfortunate incident happened at Udedeku, Maav-Ya, Mbakyor council ward of Kwande Local Government Area.”
The NSCDC spokesperson named the deceased as CCA Tijani Idris, NSCDC service number 76691, of the Kaduna State Command but seconded to the Operation Whirl Stroke Joint Task Force.
He noted that, despite the sad situation, the NSCDC remains dedicated and committed to combating insecurity in all of its manifestations.
Following the US bombing of ISWAP facilities in Sokoto on December 25, there has been a rise of killings and attacks on farmers and security personnel in sections of Benue State.
Meanwhile, in separate interviews with our correspondent, HRH Daniel Abomtse, a traditional ruler in Gwer West Local Government Area, and Mr. James Ejeh, Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, both expressed concern about the incursion of bandits into the state.
