Suspected armed herdsmen have reportedly killed four Mobile Policemen and eight residents in a fresh attack on Ayilamo, Tombola Ward, in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Ayilamo, a farming community located along the Abinsi-Tyulen-Anyii-Wukari axis, has reportedly faced repeated attacks by armed bandits in recent times.
A resident, Tyolumu Ugande, said more than 200 armed men invaded the community through Alufu Road in neighbouring Taraba State. He said the attackers moved into Ayilamo, shooting sporadically and setting houses ablaze.
According to Ugande, the attackers, who were reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons, engaged a team of Mobile Policemen deployed to the community in a fierce gun battle.
He said the exchange of gunfire lasted several hours before the attackers eventually retreated. However, four bodies of Mobile Policemen were reportedly found in the bush on Friday morning.
Ugande also said eight residents were killed during the attack.
The incident was confirmed by the Secretary of the Ayilamo Security Committee, who said the community had appealed to security agencies for additional reinforcement.
Another resident, James Ugah, claimed that the latest incident was the second time in a month that Mobile Policemen deployed to Ayilamo had been killed by attackers.
He said, “The bandits have been trying to set the whole Ayilamo ablaze for more than two years now. We called on security personnel, Benue and the Federal Government to help secure our land and lives.”
Ugah also alleged that the attacks could be linked to reports of large mineral deposits in and around the community.
“We learnt that the series of attacks on Ayilamo may not be unconnected with rumours that there are huge mineral deposits within and around Ayilamo,” he said.
Efforts to get a reaction from the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Orchia Aondogwu, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
