Four policemen have been declared missing after an ambush by suspected fulani herdsmen militia targeted a police mobile force patrol team in Ayilemo in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attack occurred when the team were returning from an operation in some villages in the local government. The attackers reportedly set one of the patrol vehicles ablaze.
Fatai Owoseni, the Benue State commissioner of Police, said a search is on for the missing officials.
“The Command would like to report that in furtherance of its confidence-building strategy and strengthening its visibility, Police Mobile Force Teams conducted a robust patrol of Ayilemo in Logo LGA today, 10th February 2018,” he said.
“However, on their way back to their camp at about 1430hrs, they came under attack of a fully armed group suspected to be herdsmen. In the ensuing gun battle, one of the Police patrol vans caught fire”.
“Effort ongoing to locate Four of the Policemen who were not seen while headcount was conducted. Casualty on the side of the Insurgents is being ascertained. The Police will not be deterred or relent in its effort to ensure adequate security in areas under threat in the State.”
Ibrahim Idris, the inspector-general of police, IGP, had deployed 15 police units, special forces, technical and intelligence teams to contain further attacks in Benue State.
This came as the state government said it was no longer confident in the ability of the police led by Idris to provide protection for the people of the state.
