By SCM Correspondent l Saturday, Sept 13, 2026
MAKURDI — A bloody invasion by suspected armed herders on Ayilamo community in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State has claimed the lives of four police officers and seven residents following a fierce, seven-hour gun battle.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, the heavy attack began at approximately 6:00 PM on September 10 and lasted into the early hours of September 11, 2026.
The assailants, described as armed bandits in large numbers, launched a coordinated siege on the agrarian community.
However, police operatives—comprising Police Mobile Force (PMF) units, tactical teams, and conventional officers deployed to the axis—gallantly engaged the invaders in a sustained fire-fight.
The security forces successfully repelled the attack, forcing the armed group to retreat into the surrounding forest with heavy casualties.
Regrettably, four police operatives paid the supreme price during the defense. Their bodies were later recovered from the surrounding bushes during search and rescue operations. Search teams also recovered the corpses of seven civilian residents, which have since been deposited at a local mortuary.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the resilience and bravery of the fallen officers and tactical units who stood firm to prevent further devastation of the community.
Extending his condolences to the bereaved families and the Ayilamo community, CP Nwadiogbu assured residents that the Command remains resolute in its mandate. Additional tactical teams have been mobilized to reinforce security arrangements and track the fleeing bandits alongside sister security agencies.
The Command urged the public to remain calm, vigilant, and provide timely information to aid ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
The Logo LGA Flashpoint: Logo Local Government Area, particularly communities like Ayilamo, Anyiin, and Ugba, has historically been a major hotspot for bloody clashes involving suspected armed herders, militia groups, and local farming communities.
Economic & Humanitarian Impact: Recurrent attacks in Benue State—often referred to as Nigeria’s “Food Basket”—have displaced thousands of agrarian residents, leading to an increasing number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and severe threats to national food security.
Sustained Security Interventions: Despite joint security campaigns involving Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), the Nigeria Police Force, and local vigilante groups, the vast forest reserves bordering Nasarawa and Taraba states continue to offer cover for armed criminal elements launching sporadic attacks on vulnerable rural settlements.
