AYILAMO ATTACK: FOUR POLICE OFFICERS, SEVEN RESIDENTS DIE AS GUNMEN INVADE BENUE COMMUNITY!

Reported by Musa Antiketu,| Journalist at Obaland magazine.

Eleven people don lose dem lives after armed attackers invade Ayilamo community for Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, with four police officers and seven residents among di people wey die for di attack.

Di attack happen from Thursday evening, September 10, 2026, reach early hours of Friday, September 11, for Ayilamo, wey dey under Tombo Council Ward for Logo Local Government Area.

Di Benue State Police Command confirm say four of dia officers and seven civilians die during di attack. Police talk say security personnel from Police Mobile Force, tactical units and regular police units respond to di attack and engage di attackers for several hours before dem force dem to retreat into nearby bush.

According to police information wey media houses report, di attack start around 6:12pm on Thursday and di gun battle last for about seven hours. Four police officers later die from injuries and wounds wey dem suffer while dem dey defend di community. Dem recover dia bodies during search operations for bush around di community.

Residents talk say large number of armed men enter Ayilamo and begin to shoot at people and burn houses. Some residents accuse suspected armed herders of carrying out di attack, while police describe di attackers as suspected armed bandits. Obaland magazine no fit independently confirm di identity or affiliation of di attackers as of di time of dis report.

Ayilamo na farming community wey dey along di Abinsi-Tyulen-Anyiin-Wukari road. Di area don face repeated security challenges for recent years, with residents repeatedly calling for stronger security presence to protect lives, farms and property.

Community sources say di attackers reportedly enter through road wey connect di area with neighbouring Taraba State before moving towards Ayilamo. Local accounts also say security personnel wey dey stationed for di community confront di attackers after dem begin di assault.

Di four police officers wey die for di latest attack na ASP Paul Ina, Inspector Mohammed Yusuf, Inspector Oge Ikechukwu and Inspector Edeh Andrew, according to reports from di area.

Some of di civilians wey community representatives identify among di victims include Baba Nyikyaa Mbanengen Agia, Mkohol Ahowe, Agah Saanmoyol, Baba Mlahaga Kpurkpur and Geoffrey Aondoakaa Gaku. Two children also dey among di civilians wey community sources identify as victims.

Di latest attack don again raise concern about di security situation for Benue, especially communities wey dey close to state borders and areas wey farmers depend heavily on agriculture for dia livelihood.

Residents don continue to call for more security personnel and stronger response from both Benue State and di Federal Government. Dem also want security agencies to find di people behind di attacks and make sure say communities fit live and farm without fear.

Police say additional security personnel don dey sent to di area to strengthen security and prevent another attack. Di command also express sympathy to families of di police officers and civilians wey lose dia lives.

Di disagreement between some early community accounts and di official casualty figure also show why proper verification matter for reporting security incidents. While some early reports mention eight civilian deaths, di Benue State Police Command confirm seven civilians and four police officers, bringing di confirmed death toll to 11.

Di attack for Ayilamo dey add to di long-running security problem for Benue State, where clashes, armed attacks and disputes over farmland and community security don repeatedly affect rural communities. For Obaland magazine, di identity of perpetrators and di full reason behind dis particular attack remain subject to further investigation by security agencies.

Di immediate priority now na to protect residents, recover any missing people, provide support for families wey lose loved ones and ensure say people behind di violence face justice through lawful investigation and prosecution.

Di media houses wey report and confirm di matter include Punch, Trust Radio and The Sun Nigeria.

Four police officers and seven civilians die after armed attackers invade Ayilamo community for Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, with police confirming 11 deaths.