Four mobile policemen and eight villagers reportedly died in a devastating Friday morning raid by heavily armed invaders on Ayilamo community in Tombo Ward, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Noting that Ayilamo had come under repeated attacks by bandits, forcing residents to call for increased security presence in the area, one resident, Tyolumun Ugande, told journalists in Makurdi that a detachment of mobile policemen deployed to the community engaged the attackers, who were reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons.
Ugande disclosed that the gun battle lasted several hours from Thursday night before the bandits eventually retreated, with the four policemen bodies discovered in the bush on Friday morning, adding that eight other villagers were also found dead after the attack, while several houses were reportedly burnt by the attackers.
Also corroborating the report, another resident, James Udough, informed newsmen that the latest incident was the second time within one month that mobile policemen deployed to Ayilamo were killed by the attackers.
He said: “The bandits have been trying to set the whole of Ayilamo ablaze for more than two years now. We call on security personnel, the Benue State Government and the Federal Government to help secure our land and lives.”
Some residents alleged that untapped mineral riches beneath Ayilamo are driving a chilling theory that the relentless attack on the community is no coincidence, but a calculated resource war.
Meanwhile, the Police leadership in Benue state is yet to issue an official statement with the Command Spokesman, DSP Peter Aondongu yet to deliver on his promised update as of the time of filing this report.
