Bandits Kill Soldier, NSCDC Officer In Benue
Bandits, suspected armed herders, on Saturday, killed a soldier and an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps at Udeku community in Turan district of the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
A community leader from the area confirmed the incident, Mr Lawrence Akerigba, who said the attack had forced scores of residents to flee the community.
Akerigba added that all economic and social activities in the area had been grounded as a result of the attack..
The slain officers were reportedly returning from Aga Market, where they had gone on a motorcycle to refill their cooking gas.
“Unfortunately, on their way back, they ran into a roadblock mounted by Fulani militants who were attacking the community,” a source said.
“They took them unawares, opened fire on them and killed them instantly,” the source added.
Further sources disclosed that youths in the area quickly mobilised, combed the forest and recovered the charred bodies of the deceased officers, which were taken to the mortuary at Jato Aka.
It was further learnt that the suspected herders had invaded the area last week and killed five farmers in cold blood.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Udeme Edet, also confirmed the incident, clarifying that no police officer was involved.
“No police officer was killed, but regrettably an officer from our sister agency did not make it,” Edet said.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Mr Michael Ejelikwu, confirmed the incident on Sunday.
Ejelikwu said: “Yes, unfortunately, I can confirm to you that at about 1500 hours on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Fulani militias attacked three security personnel attached to Operation Whirl Stroke and killed two of them.
“The unfortunate incident happened at Udedeku, Maav-Ya, Mbakyor council ward of Kwande Local Government Area.”
The NSCDC spokesperson identified the personnel killed as CCA Tijani Idris, NSCDC service number 76691, from the Kaduna State Command but seconded to the Operation Whirl Stroke Joint Task Force.
He added that despite the unfortunate incident, the NSCDC remained determined and committed to confronting insecurity in all its forms.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
