Tension has gripped Benue State after a deadly ambush left three police officers dead and seven others missing in the Katsina-Ala/Ukum Local Government Area.
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed that the attack, which occurred on Friday, September 19, 2025, was carried out by suspected armed herdsmen and local militias at Agu Centre.
Police Confirm Deaths, Launch Manhunt
In a statement on Sunday, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed that six suspects had been arrested and were assisting investigators.
“The attack resulted in the death of three police officers, while seven others are still missing. The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Innocent Ifeanyi Emenari, is currently leading the operation geared towards rescuing the missing officers and arresting the fleeing suspects,” Hundeyin said.
IGP Reacts, Orders Reinforcement
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, strongly condemned the attack, calling it “cruel, unwarranted, and an affront on the good people of Benue State.”
He ordered the deployment of more tactical assets to the troubled axis and vowed that “no stone will be left unturned in restoring peace and security.”
According to police sources, the suspects already in custody are providing “useful information” to aid the manhunt for those still at large.
Similar Attack in Kogi
This ambush comes barely days after a similar incident in Egbe, Yagba West LGA of Kogi State, near the Kwara boundary, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
That assault also claimed the lives of three police officers, after gunmen opened fire on a security checkpoint.
Kogi Police spokesperson, William Aya, confirmed the incident, while State Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, disclosed that a tactical response team had been deployed to track down the attackers.
Police Call for Calm
Despite the rising wave of violence, the Nigeria Police has urged the public to remain calm but vigilant, assuring that efforts are ongoing to rescue the missing officers and dismantle criminal networks responsible for the repeated assaults.
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