Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Two newly deployed Mobile Police officers attached to Ayilamo community in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State have been killed after they were ambushed by armed invaders while on their way to escort the Divisional Police Officer back to the community. The incident occurred at about 6pm on Monday, September 14, 2026, along the route between Makurdi and Ayilamo, according to the Daily Trust. The officers were travelling to meet the DPO, who was returning to Ayilamo after a trip to Makurdi, when they were attacked. The police confirmed the incident through the Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, who said the DPO’s entourage was ambushed on its way back from Makurdi and that the attack claimed the lives of two policemen. The identities of the slain officers were not immediately disclosed. Residents told journalists that the attackers were suspected to be armed invaders operating from forests and deserted villages within Tombo Council Ward of Logo LGA. The residents expressed concern over the movement of armed men through forests and abandoned settlements in the area and called for sustained security operations to prevent further attacks.
The ambush brings to six the total number of policemen killed in Ayilamo within three days, following an attack on Thursday, September 10, 2026, which claimed the lives of four Mobile Police officers and seven civilians in the community. That attack, which lasted about seven hours, began at about 6:12pm when suspected armed bandits in large numbers invaded the community. Officers from the Police Mobile Force, tactical teams and conventional police engaged the assailants in a sustained gun battle and eventually repelled the attack, forcing the criminal elements to retreat into the surrounding forest. But four police officers were killed during the operation. The command identified them as Paul Ina, Mohammed Yusuf, Oge Ikechukwu and Edeh Andrew. Their bodies were recovered from surrounding bushes during search and rescue operations. Seven civilians were also killed, and their bodies were deposited at a mortuary.
A resident, Tyolumun Ugande, told journalists that about 200 suspected armed herders invaded the community, shooting at residents and burning houses. He said a detachment of Mobile Policemen deployed to Ayilamo confronted the bandits who were armed with sophisticated weapons. After several hours of exchange of gunfire, the bandits retreated, but on Friday morning four bodies of Mobile Policemen and residents of the community were recovered in the bush. The Secretary of the Ayilamo Security Committee, Umishi Terungwa, also confirmed the attack. He said the attack occurred between Thursday night and the early hours of Friday and described the victims as including community elders, residents and security personnel. He identified some of the civilian victims as Nyikyaa Agia, Mkohol Ahowe, Agah Saanmoyol, popularly known as Dodo, Mlahaga Kpurkpur, Geoffrey Gaku, also known as Bala, and two children. Ugande had initially put the death toll at 12, including four police officers and eight civilians, but the police later confirmed 11 deaths, comprising four officers and seven civilians.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State condemned the attack on Ayilamo community, describing it as a despicable act. He commended the Department of State Services for the prompt and professional operation that led to the arrest of three suspects allegedly linked to the attack. The governor said his administration would continue to collaborate with security agencies to protect vulnerable communities. He commiserated with the families of the victims and the people of Ayilamo. The DSS operation that led to the arrests was welcomed by the governor, who said it demonstrated the commitment of security agencies to bringing perpetrators of violence to justice. The police said the attack on Thursday occurred about a year after the Ayilamo Police Station was upgraded to a divisional headquarters as part of a broader restructuring of policing in Benue State. On August 20, 2025, the then Benue Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, announced that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had approved the creation of two new area commands and upgraded five police stations to divisional status. Ayilamo was among the five stations upgraded, alongside Yelewata, Jato-Aka, Okpokolo and Agan.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from across Nigeria. The Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, Peter Obi, condemned the killing of at least 11 people, including four police officers. In a statement issued on Saturday, Obi said the continued bloodshed in Benue and other parts of Nigeria was unacceptable and called on the federal and state governments to take decisive action to protect citizens. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria demanded the resignation of Governor Alia over the killings, accusing the state government of failing to protect lives. The Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State accused the governor of diversionary tactics, questioning the government’s silence during the attack and demanding accountability for the use of funds allocated to the state. The Prayer and Support for Nigerian Armed Forces and Other Security Agencies mourned the deaths of the four policemen and seven civilians, describing the attack as a tragedy that underscored the challenges facing security personnel in the line of duty.
The violence in Ayilamo is part of a broader pattern of insecurity in Benue State, where clashes between farmers and herders have claimed hundreds of lives in recent years. The state has been a flashpoint for communal violence, with armed groups carrying out attacks on communities, displacing thousands of residents and destroying property. The Benue State Government has repeatedly called for federal support to address the security challenges, while opposition parties have accused the state government of failing to protect its citizens. The latest ambush on the DPO’s escort highlights the risks faced by security personnel deployed to rural communities, where armed groups operate with relative impunity. The police have said they will intensify operations in the area, and the DSS has arrested suspects linked to the Thursday attack. But residents remain fearful, and many are calling for a more sustained security presence to prevent further attacks.
For now, the people of Ayilamo are mourning the loss of six policemen and seven civilians in three days. The community, which was upgraded to a divisional headquarters less than a year ago, has become a symbol of the security crisis in Benue State. The government has promised to bring the perpetrators to justice and to strengthen security in the area. But the residents who spoke to journalists said they had neither seen nor heard of any significant security reinforcement since the attacks. They described life in the community as similar to living in a prison, with residents afraid to leave their homes even during the day. The coming weeks will test whether the arrests and promises translate into real protection for a community that has suffered too much. The ambush on the DPO’s escort is the latest reminder that the security situation in Benue remains fragile, and that the road between Makurdi and Ayilamo is far from safe.
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