Bandits Attack Benue Communities, k!ll Soldier, Residents

Suspected bandits are said to have carried out separate attacks in Benue State’s Kwande and Apa Local Government Areas (LGAs), killing a number of individuals, including a soldier.

The attacks took place on Saturday and Sunday in Kwande and Apa LGAs’ Udedeku village of Maav-Ya, Mkoonmom District, Mbaikyor Council Ward, Turan Jato-Aka, and Ochumekwu, respectively.

Locals claim that the bandits attacked the Kwande community of Udedeku and killed a number of people there.

There are rumors that some residents are currently missing.

Major General Sunday Igbinomwanhia, the Force Commander of Operations Whirl Stroke, confirmed the happenings and said that soldiers stationed in Ochumekwu, Apa LGA, were ambushed by armed bandits, leading to one soldier’s death and another’s injuries.

He said, “Suspected armed bandits have attacked soldiers deployed in Ochumekwu, Apa LGA, killed one personnel, and wounded one.

“The troops in response killed three and injured several of them. They recovered one AK-47 rifle and rounds of ammunition from them.”

The OPWS Commander stated that forces were carrying out a clearance operation to drive out suspected armed foreign bandits who had invaded the LG in relation to the attack in Kwande.

Although she wasn’t aware of any fatalities, Catherine Anene, the state’s police public relations officer, acknowledged the invasion of Kwande’s forest. [CONTINUE READING HERE]