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JUST IN: 13 dead as police, bandits exchange gunfire in Benue

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The Police Command in Benue says it has neutralized 12 bandits terrorizing the Buruku Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Sewuese Anene, made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday in Makurdi.

Anene said that the command unfortunately lost one of its personnel, Insp. Terfa Anyiatse, during an exchange of gunfire with the bandits.

The PPRO stated that the Commissioner of Police, Steve Yabanet, had on March 6 ordered tactical commanders and divisional police officers to clamp down on criminals in the state.

Anene said that the order became necessary when the command noticed a regrouping of criminal gangs.

She said that following the directives, the Operation Zenda Joint Taskforce embarked on raids across the state.

According to her, on March 19, while some of the operatives were on their way to a criminal hideout at Agwabi, Tombo Ward, Buruku LGA, they ran into an ambush laid by the bandits, who engaged the police in a fierce gun duel.

“The police countered the ambush with superior firepower that subdued the gang.

“At the end of the crossfire, 12 bandits were neutralized, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

“The bandits were taken to a hospital, where they were confirmed dead, and the corpses were deposited at the hospital mortuary.

“Items recovered from them include three AK-47 rifles, six rounds of live ammunition, camouflage uniforms, and assorted charms.

“Unfortunately, one of the police team members, Insp. Terfa Anyiatse, sustained a gunshot injury and was eventually confirmed dead by a doctor.

His corpse has also been deposited at the morgue,” she said.

The CP commiserated with the family and friends of the deceased officer and prayed for the repose of his soul.

He also extolled the courage of the operatives involved in the operation.

“Similarly, operations carried out around Daudu and Makurdi by various divisions led to the recovery of seven locally made pistols and the arrest of five suspected robbers and 32 suspected cultists,” she added.

Crime

JUST IN: Bandits Attack Three Bauchi Villages, Kill Many Villagers, professional Hunters

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An unconfirmed number of people have been killed in an ambush attack by bandits on a combined team of professional hunters from Duguri and Gwana District in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The bandits also killed many residents who fled from their villages following the attack which occurred on Sunday 4th May 2025, at about 5.40am.

The hunters were on a routine patrol along Duguri, Mansur, and the Dajin Madam forest bordering Bauchi and Plateau States when the armed bandits attacked them.

Details on the exact number of the hunters and residents killed are still sketchy but residents say nine people were killed, while some say that the number could be as high as 15.

The Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Police Command, Ahmed Wakil, who confirmed the incident in a statement to journalists on Monday did not give the exact number of casualties but said that many people were killed both on the side of the bandits and that of the hunters.

He said those killed also included civilian residents from Sabuwar Sara village, who were mercilessly shot by the bandits while attempting to flee from the attack.

Wakil also said the Commissioner of Police Bauchi State, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has deployed tactical teams to Mansur village in Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi following a visit to relevant stakeholders where he strongly condemned the recent killings, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives.

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Crime

JUST IN: Suspected herdsmen hijack fully loaded vehicle, kill driver, abduct passengers in Benue

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Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Sunday night hijacked a commercial vehicle along the Otukpo-Adoka road in Benue State, killing the driver and abducting all passengers on board.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. as the vehicle was en route to Otukpo from Abuja.

Eyewitnesses said that the attackers opened fire as soon as they sighted the vehicle, causing the driver to lose control and veer off the road into nearby bushes after being hit by a bullet.

The assailants subsequently abducted all the passengers before abandoning the vehicle at the scene.

The body of the slain driver, identified as a native of Adoka, has been recovered and taken to his hometown.

Meanwhile, military personnel have arrived at the scene and launched a manhunt for the attackers.

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JUST IN: Defence Headquarters nab two security personnel aiding terrorists in North-East

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Two security personnel aiding terrorist operations in the North-East have been arrested, the Defence Headquarters has announced.

The Director, Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, explained that the two personnel are from hybrid forces who had been working alongside troops to combat insurgency in the region.

He further explained that the men were arrested during operations from April 26 to 29 across Bama, Kukawa and Madagali LGAs.

According to him, the military personnel were among four terrorist logistics suppliers arrested by the troops.

Kangye described the action of the arrested men as “betrayal”, warning commanders to sensitise their personnel against acts that could sabotage ongoing military efforts.

“In a well-coordinated operation conducted from 26–29 April 2025 in Bama, Kukawa, and Madagali LGAs of Borno and Adamawa states, troops intercepted four terrorists’ logistics suppliers.

“Sadly, two of them were confirmed to be members of the hybrid forces,” the Defence Headquarters spokesman said.

“Commanders are therefore to sensitise hybrid forces personnel to desist from colluding with or encouraging terrorist acts capable of sabotaging our operations,” he added.

Kangye added that in another development, troops, in conjunction with hybrid forces, carried out offensive operations including fighting patrols, raids and clearance missions in Gwoza, Dikwa, Bama, Chibok, Gujba, Geidam, and Yunusari LGAs of Borno State.

According to him, several terrorists were killed during the operations, six kidnap victims were rescued and caches of arms, ammunition, motorcycles and bicycles were recovered.

Kangye further explained that in the South-South, troops also achieved significant success in curbing oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, saying that they recovered over 86,000 litres of stolen crude oil, 72,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, and over 2,600 litres of petrol.

He stated that troops destroyed dozens of illegal refining sites and seized boats, storage tanks, tricycles, mobile phones and seven vehicles.

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