24 killed in Benue police station attack, Ebonyi communal clash

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the killing of 14 bandits who attacked a police station yesterday in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state.

Also, 10 people were feared killed in a renewed communal clash between the people of Ezza and Effium in Ado, Benue State, and Ohaukwu in Ebonyi State.

A source said the bandits, numbering over 50, drove in Toyota Corolla vehicles to the police station where some of their gang members were being detained.

According to the source, they opened fire on the police station, but the policemen, who were already on alert, fired back, leading to the high number of casualties on the bandits’ side

“Surprisingly, the police gunned down over 10 of these bandits, while many of them escaped with gunshot wounds. We also heard that two of them were captured alive,” the source added.

When contacted, the Benue State Police Command spokeswoman, Ms. Catherine Anene, a deputy superintendent of police, confirmed that 14 of the bandits were killed during the attack.

“It is no longer news that series of operations are going on in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. These activities are geared towards a total clampdown on bandits’ activities in the area.

‘On 19th June 2021, five bandits were arrested and detained at Katsina-Ala Police Division for investigation and prosecution.

‘On June 20, 2021 (yesterday) at about 0130 hours, more than 50 other gang members of the detainees mobilised and invaded the police station to rescue their counterparts.

‘Officers at the division who were already at alert engaged them in a gun duel and were able to subdue the bandits. Fourteen of them were brought down during the exchange of fire, while several others escaped with gunshot injuries.”

Anene added that security operatives in the area are currently on the trail of suspected bandits who are now at large.

eople of Katsina-Ala town are advised to remain calm and avail every useful information about the bandits to the police,” she stated.

On the communal clash incident, the Chairman of Ado Local Government Area, Mr. James Oche, confirmed to reporters by telephone the killing, saying that 10 people were killed in the renewed communal clash.

While condemning the clash, he said the crisis had truncated the peace process his administration was working to achieve.

Oche, who called on the Ezza and Effium people to immediately sheathe their swords and give peace a chance, condoled with the families of those killed in the communal clash.

He added that the police, in collaboration with the newly formed Community Volunteer Guards in the local government, were able to rescue three people who were allegedly abducted by suspected herdsmen in the area.

The council boss said some armed kidnappers suspected to be herdsmen, had on Thursday laid ambush on the road between Utonkon and Okpoga and stopped a Lagos- bound commercial vehicle from Oju LGA and took hostage of five passengers.

“Operation Puff Adder Police Unit and the newly formed Community Volunteer Guards in Ado Local Government successfully confronted a group of Fulani kidnappers and secured the release of three of five persons abducted,” he said.