The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that eight people were killed in a suspected terrorist attack on a rural community in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed this on Sunday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), describing the assault as a terrorist attack carried out using guerrilla-style tactics.
According to the police commissioner, the victims included five adults and three children.
Nwadiogbu explained that he spent most of Sunday in the affected community alongside other security operatives to assess the situation, engage with residents and restore normalcy after the attack.
He noted that communication was initially difficult because security teams were operating deep inside the affected rural area.
“We have been in the interior since morning. The network was poor because we were in the bush.
“Some people were killed, and the youths became violent.
“We have been engaging them, and they have now agreed to reopen the road. They are only waiting for water tankers to extinguish the fire,” he said.
The commissioner revealed that the attack triggered tension within the community, with angry youths blocking access roads in protest before security agencies intervened to calm the situation.
According to him, dialogue with community members helped ease tensions, and arrangements were being made to clear the roads after extinguishing fires set during the unrest.
Nwadiogbu stated that investigations had commenced to determine whether the latest attack was linked to previous incidents of violence recorded in the area.
He said security agencies were still gathering intelligence and evidence before reaching any conclusions about the motive behind the assault.
“We cannot say for now whether it is connected to previous attacks or whether the terrorists simply wanted to achieve their aim,” he stated.
Despite ongoing investigations, the police commissioner maintained that the nature of the attack pointed to terrorist activities.
He explained that the attackers relied on hit-and-run tactics, making it difficult for security personnel to apprehend them immediately after launching the assault.
“They operate in the guerrilla warfare style. Once they attack, they immediately disappear into the woods, making it difficult to apprehend them,” Nwadiogbu said.
He assured residents that security agencies had intensified operations in the area to track down those responsible for the killings and prevent further attacks on surrounding communities.
The police commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to restoring peace and ensuring the safety of lives and property across Benue State.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel by providing timely and credible information that could assist ongoing investigations and security operations.
Nwadiogbu emphasised that intelligence supplied by local residents remains critical in identifying criminal hideouts and preventing future attacks.
He assured the affected community that every effort would be made to bring the perpetrators to justice and strengthen security presence in vulnerable areas.
