Dreadful Attack Claims 17 Lives, Including Police Officer, at Benue Market

A surge of violence has claimed the lives of at least 17 people, one of whom was a Mobile Police officer, during an assault on a rural market in the Abande settlement, Mbaikyor Ward, within the Turan district of Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State.

Sources from the local community revealed that the attack took place on Tuesday, coinciding with the regular market day when residents typically gather to conduct business. The assailants reportedly unleashed gunfire upon the unsuspecting traders and community members, leading to immediate fatalities.

A former Supervisory Councillor for Kwande LGA, Akerigba Lawrence, corroborated the accounts, stating that the attackers not only caused deaths but also looted shops. Traders reported losses amounting to over N150 million in cash and goods before the market was set ablaze.

Lawrence further detailed that by late Tuesday night, preliminary efforts were underway to recover the bodies of some victims, with personnel from the local Mobile Police Force assisting in transporting them to Jato-Aka.

Among those confirmed deceased were Iornunbe Agba, Chia Kile, Terseer Shenge, Mker Ugbe, Emmanuel Agba Ortswen, Gbinde, and the Mobile Police unit commander on duty at the time of the incident, alongside other individuals. As of the time of reporting, several other residents remained unaccounted for.

The recent assault has significantly amplified security concerns among residents of Turan and adjacent communities, highlighting what is described as a deteriorating security situation in the region. The Abande community is situated near Anwase, a settlement that experienced a tragic attack on Christmas Day in 2024, resulting in over 28 fatalities.

Community members also noted that since the start of the year, repeated assaults in the vicinity have led to the deaths of more than 76 individuals, including members of the security forces. They pointed out that the Abande community and its surrounding areas, which are located close to the Nigeria- Cameroon border, experience a minimal security presence from Nigerian forces.

In response, the Benue State Police Command's Spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, has confirmed the loss of four lives in the attack. She stated that the Divisional Police Officer in Jato-Aka received a distress call on February 3, 2026, reporting a large number of suspected armed herder bandits attacking police personnel and community members in Abande.

During the engagement, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to the 13 Police Mobile Force (PMF) in Makurdi, who was on special duty in Abande, sustained fatal injuries. Additionally, four members of the community were killed by the bandits.

DSP Edet confirmed that combined security forces have been deployed to the area to ensure safety, conduct thorough investigations, and prevent further unrest. The recovered bodies have been taken to the mortuary.

In reaction to the incident, the Commissioner of Police for Benue State Command, CP Ifeanu Emenari, has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police overseeing Operations to lead additional Mobile Force personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to Jato-Aka. Their mandate is to coordinate intense operations aimed at apprehending the perpetrators.