Bloody Reckoning: Armed Herdsmen Slay Four Police Officers in Benue Ambush

Gunfire erupted across Udei community in Guma LGA of Benue State on Sunday, June 29, 2025, as armed herdsmen launched a multi-pronged attack on Daudu, Tse Ashongu, Tse Asha, and Tse Abough. In fierce clashes with mobile police deployed to protect residents and those sheltering in the Ortese IDP camp, four officers were killed while repelling the assault—hundreds of civilians fled in panic.

Witnesses say marauders fired warning shots into the Ortese camp before engaging in a brutal firefight with security forces near Tse Abough. Though the military later reinforced the area, the attack left communities like Daudu and Tse Ashongu deserted and under siege.

Authorities are linking this latest raid to a broader wave of violence that has traumatized the region. In late May, coordinated strikes by suspected herdsmen in Gwer West LGA killed over 42 people—including a mobile police officer—and displaced thousands from their homes across four villages.

Local leaders warn the violence is escalating. Chief Daniel Abomtse of Gwer West described gruesome scenes: victims shot while fleeing, some hiding in wells; bodies mutilated, and villages emptied. He called the assault “unprovoked” and sourced nearly 61 killed across multiple LGAs in early June, including both Gwer West and Apa LGAs.

State Police Commissioner Ifeanyi Emenari confirmed that a total of 42 suspected herdsmen have been arrested since April when he took office, with tactical teams dispatched to flashpoints like Udei, Agatu, Gwer West, and Logo LGAs.

President Bola Tinubu is now directly involved—prompting him to reroute a planned visit to Kaduna and head to Benue on Monday. Witnessing the insecurity up close, Tinubu vowed a crackdown, demanded arrests of perpetrators, and called for peace-building among community and security stakeholders.

Agriculture, the heartbeat of Benue’s economy, has suffered dramatically. A recent academic survey shows increases in insecurity correlate with significant declines in crop and livestock yields: each percentage rise in violence reduces agricultural output by 0.211% and livestock production by 0.311%, threatening livelihoods across affected LGAs.