The Nigeria Police Force has condemned the deaths of three policemen and the disappearance of seven others in a horrific ambush on its tactical teams in Benue State.
A similar attack occurred on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in Egbe, a town in Yagba West Local Government Area near the border with Kwara State, killing three officers during an ambush at a security post.
William Aya, the Kogi State Police spokesperson, acknowledged the loss of three policemen from the command on Sunday. Meanwhile, the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, announced that a tactical reaction team had been dispatched to the scene.
According to a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, on Sunday, the incident took place on Friday, September 19, 2025, in Agu Centre, Katsina-Ala/Ukum Local Government Area, where “suspected armed herdsmen and local militias” launched the attack.
Hundeyin stated that six suspects have been arrested in an ongoing response operation and are “assisting with useful information.”
“The Nigeria Police Force has arrested six suspects in an ongoing response operation in Benue State, following a deadly attack on Police Tactical Teams by suspected armed herdsmen and local militias at Agu Centre, Katsina-Ala/Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
“The attack, which occurred on Friday, September 19, 2025, resulted in the death of three police officers, while seven others are still missing.
“The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Innocent Ifeanyi Emenari, is currently leading the operation geared towards rescuing the missing officers and arresting the fleeing suspects,” the statement read.
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Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, called the assault “cruel, unwarranted, and an affront to the good people of Benue State.”
He directed the deployment of extra tactical assets to the volatile area, saying that “no stone will be left unturned in restoring peace and security to Benue State.”
“The arrested suspects are in custody and assisting with useful information.”
Similarly, the IG has directed the deployment of extra tactical assets to the region and promised the state that no effort would be spared in restoring peace and security in Benue State,” the statement continued.
The Force requested the public to stay calm, watchful, and supportive while efforts continue to locate missing soldiers and dismantle the criminal networks responsible for the attack.
However, eight security officers remain missing as part of a clearance operation in Benue State’s Katsina Ala Local Government Area.
It was gathered that 11 security personnel from the police and state security personnel known as the Civil Protection Guards under the code name ‘Anyam Nyór’ were reported to have embarked on a clearance operation at the Agu Centre, a rural settlement in Katsina-Ala LGA’s Mbatyula Council Ward.
The security personnel, headed by an ASP known in the region as Dan Zuru, were ambushed by highly armed local criminals and herders.
A former chairman of the Local Government Area, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to communicate with the press, said the event occurred late Friday and that three security agents were slain and eight others were missing.
“You know that our area is volatile (Sankera area). So, we have stationed security operatives here who have been combating these enemies.
“We learned that on Friday, the security personnel under the Anyam Nyór went on a clearance operation but were ambushed by local militias in conjunction with the Fulani, and all of them were killed.
“So far, three corpses of the security personnel have been recovered as of this morning (Sunday),” the former chairman said.
The incumbent LGA chairman, Shaku Justine, who spoke to journalists on Sunday, confirmed the incident through a phone conversation.
He said, “Yes. Some security operatives were attacked by cattle herders yesterday while they were on joint patrol; two bodies were recovered past 11pm last night.
“We don’t know if all the 11 personnel were killed, but a search team has been deployed to the area. It’s when they return that we will know for sure.
“The two patrol vehicles they were in were burnt down; an eyewitness said the attackers were more than 1000, and they came in large numbers.”
