Bandits suspected to be armed herders have killed a soldier and an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) during an attack on Udeku community in the Turan district of Kwande Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
The incident occurred on Saturday and has forced many residents to flee the area, according to a community leader, Mr Lawrence Akerigba.
Akerigba said the attack had brought all social and economic activities in the community to a halt.
The slain security personnel were among officers deployed to Kwande to help maintain peace amid repeated attacks linked to suspected armed herders.
They were reportedly returning from Aga Market on a motorcycle, where they had gone to refill cooking gas, when they encountered a roadblock mounted by the attackers.
“They ran into a roadblock mounted by Fulani militants who were attacking the community.
“They were taken unawares, shot and killed on the spot,” a source said.
It was said that local youths later mobilised to search the surrounding forest, recovered the charred bodies of the two officers and took the remains to a mortuary in Jato Aka.
Security sources said the same group of attackers had invaded the area last week, killing at least five farmers.
A senior military officer with Operation Whirl Stroke confirmed the killing of the soldier, identifying him as an aircraftman, but declined to comment further due to lack of authorisation.
The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, also confirmed the incident, clarifying that no police officer was involved. “No police officer was killed, but an officer from our sister agency did not make it,” he said.
The NSCDC spokesperson in the state, Mr Michael Ejelikwu, confirmed that three security personnel attached to Operation Whirl Stroke were attacked at about 3pm on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Udedeku in Kwande Local Government Area.
Ejelikwu identified the NSCDC officer killed as Chief Corps Assistant Tijani Idris, service number 76691, from the Kaduna State Command and seconded to the joint task force.
He stressed the corps remained committed to tackling insecurity despite the attack.
The latest incident comes amid renewed violence in parts of Benue State, with reports of increased attacks on farmers and security operatives in recent weeks.
Separately, a traditional ruler in Gwer West Local Government Area, HRH Daniel Abomtse, and the chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Mr James Ejeh, have raised alarms over what they described as a growing influx of bandits into the state.
READ ALSO: Ogun Police Investigate Killing Woman as Husband Dies in Suspected Suicide
0 Comments