The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the death of a police officer and three civilians in Aondona Village, Gwer West Local Government Area, following a brutal attack by suspected armed herdsmen.
State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sewuese Anene, made the disclosure to journalists on Monday in Makurdi.
She said the attack occurred in Aondona Village, where the officer was killed while defending residents under siege.
“The police responded promptly when the incident in Aondona was reported. Three bodies were recovered, and an investigation is currently ongoing,” Anene stated.
She also revealed that another police officer was killed earlier while trying to protect a different village in the same local government area, just hours before the Aondona attack.
However, local residents painted a more grim picture, alleging that the coordinated attacks spread across four communities, leaving more than 30 people dead, seven injured, and two kidnapped.
They claimed the violence has driven many from their homes, lamenting that such deadly invasions have become a recurring tragedy in the region.
In nearby Gwer East Local Government Area, residents of Mablim, which shares a border with Aondona, have reportedly fled to Taraku town for safety.
A local source stated that over 15 people were killed in Aondona alone, seven in Ahume, five in Tyolaha, and six in Orbiam, while two individuals were abducted.
According to the source, the armed herders began their attack in Aondona on Saturday evening and continued the onslaught on Monday in Ahume and other neighboring villages.
