From Joseph Uchenna, in Makurdi
At least 17 persons have been confirmed dead following a violent attack on Abande settlement in Mbaikyor Ward, Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
Locals who pleaded anonymity said the attack was carried out on Tuesday 3rd February, 2026 by suspected terrorists, and has left the community in deep shock and mourning.
The attack was said to have happened on Abande market day with many people buying and selling when the assailants attacked and shops and millons were carted away from marketers even as the whole market was set ablaze.
“As at 11:55 p.m. local time, some of the victims’ bodies were conveyed to Jato Aka by personnel of the Mobile Police Force stationed in the area.
“Among the deceased were Iornunbe Agba, Chia Kile,Terseer Shenge, Mker Ugbe, Emmanuel Agba, Ortswen Gbinde and a Mobile Police officer who is the unit Commander and was on duty at the time of the incident and so many others said to be missing.
“This latest assault further prove the worsening security situation in Turan and its surrounding communities, where residents continue to live in fear, with no clear place of refuge or assurance of protection. Abande is a settlement close to Anwase where more than 28 people were slaughtered on Christmas day in 2024.
“Since the beginning of the year, our people are attacked everyday.more then 76 people are killed including security officers.
“We are asking “WHERE IS THE ANTI-OPEN GRAZING AND PROHIBITION LAW’?
Neither the Benue state government nor the Federal government is doing enough to protect us. Our government is rather protecting the terrorists as they move freely with Ak47, destroying our source of livelihood, our farms, economic trees, houses destroyed.our children and wivies are raped.
“We are at International border with the Cameroon. No state government nor Federal government presence in the place. The Cameroonian government has constructed road to Jonwater, the last village bordering Nigeria and security stationed there.”
Confirming the incident in a press release, the Benue State Police Command said four persons including a mobile policeman was killed during the attack.
The release signed by the Police Public Relations’ Officer DSP Edet Udeme stated, “the Benue State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of a violent attack carried out by suspected armed bandits on police personnel and residents of Abande Community, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
“On 3rd February, 2026, at about 17:30hr, the Divisional Police Officer, Jato-Aka, received a distress call that suspected armed herder bandits, in large numbers, had attacked police personnel stationed at Abande Community as well as members of the community.
During the ensuing confrontation while police operatives were responding to the distress call, one Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to 13 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Makurdi, who was on special duty at Abande Community, was fatally injured during the attack.
“Regrettably, four members of the community also lost their lives as a result of the attack by the bandits.
“Following the incident, combined teams of police operatives and other security agencies have been mobilized to the area to secure the community, conduct a thorough search, and forestall further breakdown of law and order. The deceased persons have been recovered and deposited at the mortuary.
“In response to the attack, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations to immediately proceed to Jato-Aka with additional Mobile Force personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to coordinate intensive operations, track the perpetrators, and effect their arrest.
“The Benue State Police Command commiserates with the families of the deceased and the Abande Community, and assures the public that all necessary measures are being taken to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore peace to the area”.
