A detachment of security personnel was ambushed by suspected herdsmen on Thursday in the dense forested area of Guma Local Government, Benue State, leaving an undetermined number of officers missing and sparking urgent search-and-rescue operations.
According to a statement by the Benue State Police Command, the patrol unit—comprising members of the Police Mobile Force and local vigilante scouts—was en route from Gbajimba towards Agbadi Village when assailants opened fire around dawn. Communication was lost shortly after the first volley of shots, and the team failed to arrive at its destination.
> “Preliminary reports indicate that our men were taken by surprise. We have mobilized additional tactical squads and are combing the surrounding bushes to locate the missing officers,” said DSP Grace Irabo, the state police spokesperson.
Local vigilante coordinator Mr. Isaac Terwase corroborated the police account, adding that tracks and discarded ammunition belts suggest the attackers retreated northwest towards the River Benue floodplain. “We fear the terrain is challenging and time is of the essence,” he said.
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the ambush and ordered an immediate coordination meeting with security chiefs in Makurdi. “This cowardly attack on those sworn to protect citizens will not go unanswered. I have directed the Commissioner of Police and the General Officer Commanding to spare no resource in recovering our officers and bringing the culprits to justice,” Governor Alia said in a press release.
The ambush underscores a disturbing escalation in the protracted clashes between herders and farming communities across the Middle Belt. While most incidents pit armed herders against civilians, Thursday’s attack marked a rare direct assault on uniformed security forces. Analysts warn such tactics could signal increased boldness among armed groups exploiting porous borders and sparse patrol coverage.
Relief organizations have expressed concern for both security personnel and local villagers, many of whom have been displaced by repeated outbreaks of violence. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has called for enhanced protection measures and community dialogue to stem further bloodshed.
As night fell, the search teams pressed on under headlamps, combing ravines and abandoned farmlands. With rainfall forecast for the coming days, authorities stress that swift action is critical to prevent the missing officers from becoming casualties of exposure or drowning in swollen waterways.
No group has claimed responsibility for the ambush. The police have appealed to anyone with information to come forward, promising confidentiality and a reward for credible leads.
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