Eight additional bodies of police personnel killed in last Friday’s ambush at Agu Centre in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State have been recovered.
The ambush, reportedly carried out by a combined group of armed herdsmen and local militia gangs, targeted a joint team comprising police officers and operatives of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG).
The team had been conducting a clearance operation between Tse Agbami and Agu Centre, near the border with Ukum LGA, when they were attacked.
Initial reports indicated that 16 security personnel may have been killed in the attack, with several others missing. The assailants also set fire to operational trucks and made away with motorbikes belonging to the team.
Three bodies were first recovered at the scene on Saturday, while search operations continued for the missing personnel.
On Monday, the Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, Justine Shaku, confirmed the recovery of more victims during an operation led by the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari.
He said, “Eight more bodies of dead Police officers were recovered on Sunday night. This brings the number to 11.
The Police Commissioner, Ifeanyi Emenari is right here with me though the atmosphere is still tense and unfriendly. But we are on top of the situation.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command had not released an official statement regarding the attack or the ongoing recovery efforts.