A Benue State Joint Taskforce Operation Zenda Unit Commander was killed in a fierce gun battle with suspected armed bandits terrorizing the Sankera axis of the state.
The fight, which lasted for over 12 hours, took place in Katsina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo local government councils, where the security agents had raided a militia camp.
The officer who was killed, an Inspector of Police commanding the Operation Zenda team in the area, was shot dead when the armed gang opened fire on security agents as the operation went on, a source who did not want to be named revealed. The police, however, retaliated with superior firepower, killing 11 bandits outright while others fled into nearby bushes.
The raid was prompted by a cry for assistance from the locals who were reporting an assault by the militia, said the source. Security personnel moved in quickly and raided the hideout, and an intense gunfight erupted that carried on from Tuesday evening into early Wednesday.
Corroborating the incident, Benue State Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Catherine Anene, corroborated the officer’s death but stated that she was still gathering the entire details of the operation. She promised to release more information as more facts became available.
