Following a devastating attack by suspected bandits that resulted in 13 fatalities and the theft of 20 livestock, the Benue State Police Command has begun a clearance operation in the Efeyi community, Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.
In response to the assault on the village, the command revealed this in a statement released on Wednesday by its spokesperson, DSP Orchia Aondongu.
Locals had previously reported that the attack early on Tuesday morning took the lives of fifteen persons.
Preliminary investigations, according to the authorities, confirmed that 13 persons died.
The command claims that the intruders broke into the community with the intention of stealing Peter Ambulus’s cattle.
According to the statement, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the armed bandits invaded the community with the sole intention of rustling cattle belonging to one Peter Ambulus ‘M,’ a native of the area.”
The attackers opened fire on farmers they came across in the bush while fleeing with the rustled cattle.
“Unfortunately, twenty (20) cattle were successfully rustled by the thugs, while thirteen (13) people were killed during the attack.”
According to the police, in reaction to the attack, tactical teams and Commissioner of Police Cletus Nwadiogbu oversaw a coordinated clearance operation.
The command claims that although the operatives were attacked during the mission, they were able to repel the attackers.
“One (1) AK-47 rifle and fifteen (15) rounds of ammunition were recovered, and two (2) of the suspected bandits were neutralized at the end of the operation,” the statement continued.
According to the command, the operation is still in progress, with security personnel searching the neighboring communities and forests to apprehend the escaping suspects, retrieve the stolen animals, and prosecute everyone involved in the incident.
It denounced the assault and reassured locals that every attempt was being made to improve security and bring peace back to the impacted neighborhood and surrounding areas.
