Suspected armed herdsmen have reportedly killed four mobile policemen and eight residents in an attack on Ayilamo community, Tombo Ward, in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Ayilamo, a farming community located along the Abinsi-Tyulen-Anyiin-Wukari road, has reportedly come under repeated attacks by suspected armed herdsmen.
An eyewitness and resident of the community, Tyolumun Ugande, said the attackers, numbering more than 200, stormed Ayilamo from Alufu Road in neighbouring Taraba State before advancing into the community.
According to him, the attackers opened fire and set houses ablaze, prompting a detachment of mobile policemen deployed to the community to confront them.
Ugande said the gun battle lasted several hours before the attackers retreated, adding that four bodies of mobile policemen were discovered in the bush on Friday morning.
“We also discovered eight bodies of residents of Ayilamo who were killed by the bandits,” he said.
The Secretary of the Ayilamo Security Committee, who confirmed the killings, said the community had requested reinforcement from security agencies.
Another resident, James Udough, said the incident marked the second time in one month that mobile policemen deployed to the community had been killed.
“The bandits have been trying to set the whole Ayilamo ablaze for more than two years now. We called on security personnel, the Benue State Government and the Federal Government to help secure our land and lives,” Udough said.
He added that the attacks might be connected to reports of huge mineral deposits within and around Ayilamo.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, confirmed the attack on Ayilamo community but said details would be provided in a statement.
“I will give details of the attack later in a press statement,” he stated.
