Benue Ambush: 16 Security Operatives Killed, Others Missing in Katsina-Ala Attack

At least 16 security operatives are feared dead, while several others remain missing, after suspected armed herdsmen allied with local militia ambushed a joint security team at Agu Centre, a rural settlement in Mbatyula/Mberev Council Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

Survivors of the attack sustained varying degrees of injuries, while trucks conveying the personnel were burnt and motorcycles seized by the assailants. Among those killed were members of Operation Anyam Nyor, a state-backed Joint Security Task Force comprising police officers and the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG).

According to a local source, over 90 security personnel led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Danlami Usman, popularly known as “Dan Zuru,” were heading into the area to flush out armed herdsmen when they ran into the ambush.

“The armed herdsmen joined forces with known local militia gangs, numbering close to 1,000. Unknown to the security team, they laid an ambush between Tse Agbami and Agu Centre, on the Katsina-Ala/Ukum border,” the source revealed.

“They drove into the ambush and, in the exchange of gunfire, over 16 members of the team were killed. Several others were captured, including ASP Dan Zuru, who had been leading the fight against armed herdsmen and bandits in Sankera. His capture is a tragedy because he was the backbone of security operations in the area.”

Katsina-Ala Local Government Chairman, Justine Shaku, confirmed the incident in a post on his verified social media handle. He disclosed that the operation was fiercely resisted by militias, Fulani marauders, and mercenaries allegedly brought in from a neighbouring state.

“Casualty reports show more than 10 officers are missing. So far, only two bodies have been recovered. Two Hilux vans were burnt, and several motorcycles carted away. Reinforcements have been deployed,” he said.

Benue State Police Commissioner, CP Innocent Ifeanyi Emenari, personally led recovery efforts in Katsina-Ala on Saturday. In a follow-up statement, Force PRO CSP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed on Sunday that the ambush, which occurred on September 19, 2025, left three police officers dead and seven others missing.

He added that a special tactical team has arrested six suspects connected to the deadly attack, who are already assisting investigators.

Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, condemned the assault, calling it “cruel, unwarranted, and an affront on the good people of Benue State.” He ordered the deployment of additional tactical units to the state, vowing that no stone would be left unturned in dismantling the criminal networks responsible.

The police urged the public to remain calm, vigilant, and supportive of ongoing operations as efforts continue to rescue missing officers and restore peace in Katsina-Ala and surrounding areas.

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