Fear Grips Benue Community as Mobile Police Officers Reportedly Withdraw from Ayilamo

Tension has heightened in Ayilamo, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, following reports that mobile police officers deployed to protect the community have withdrawn from the area.

According to reports, the security personnel, who had been defending the volatile community against attacks by armed bandits, left with their belongings, equipment and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) at about 8pm on Wednesday.

The reported withdrawal has sparked panic among residents, with many said to have spent the night in fear over concerns that the community could be exposed to further attacks.

A community leader, Jonathan Zaye, expressed concern over the development, recalling a similar incident in Anyibe several years ago that he said was followed by deadly attacks by armed bandits.

Zaye said the attackers overran Anyibe before advancing to Ayilamo, where residents were killed, houses were burnt and farmlands destroyed after security personnel withdrew from the area.

“The bandits overran Anyibe and advanced to Ayilamo, killing residents, burning houses and destroying farmlands after security agencies withdrew from the community,” he said.

Residents have appealed to security agencies and government authorities to urgently reinforce security in Ayilamo and take measures to prevent a possible attack.

As of the time of filing the original report, the spokesman of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Orchia Aondogwu, had yet to respond to enquiries sent to his official WhatsApp account regarding the reported withdrawal.

The circumstances surrounding the reported departure of the officers, including whether additional security arrangements have been made for the community, remain unclear.