Suspected Herdsmen Claim Lives of NSCDC Officer and APC Ward Secretary In Benue

Mike Ode, the head of the agro-ranger unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Benue State Command, was slain by suspected herdsmen.

The event took place on Monday, May 6, 2024, Gwer West Local Government Area of the state.

According to Nicholas Ode, the uncle of the deceased, he was brutally murdered at Shaapera village.

“We were told that he went for a special assignment at Shaapera village. It was there that they had a confrontation with the herdsmen and during the gun duel, they confirmed that the NSCDC were able to kill up to 10 of them,” he told reporters on Wednesday, May 8.

“Unfortunately, we were told that one of the four civil defence guys which is my brother was gunned down while others escaped.”

Superintendent of Corps Mike Ejelikwu, the Corps’ state spokesperson and person who verified the occurrence, stated that the personnel’s deaths will not prevent the command from carrying out its constitutional duty of ensuring the safety of all law-abiding citizens in the state.

“NSCDC has a specialised squad called the Agro Rangers located across Gwer West, Logo, Apa, Kwande, and Guma among others, to provide security for agro-allied investment,” he said.

Ejelikwu disclosed that the deceased was killed during a gun duel with the bandits, adding that there was heavy casualty on the part of the bandits.

“We lost one agro ranger who incidentally was the commander of the operation. The command was already in touch with his family.”

In a related incident, Mr. Bartholomew Uchasue, the secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Gaambe Ushin council ward of Gwer-West LGA, was assassinated by suspected herdsmen.

He met his death along the Naka-Agagbe road. [CONTINUE READING HERE]