The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has strongly condemned the attack on Ayilamo community in Logo Local Government Area. This attack resulted in the deaths of four police officers and seven civilians.
Mr Alia praised the State Security Services (SSS) for arresting three suspects who are believed to be linked to the attack. He made this statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, on Friday. The governor called the attack a serious threat to the security and stability of the state.
“This terrible act is an attack on the peace-loving people of Ayilamo and a serious threat to the security and stability of Benue State,” Mr Alia stated.
He added, “The reported killing of four law enforcement officers is particularly painful and highlights the huge sacrifices made by security personnel while doing their jobs.”
According to PREMIUM TIMES, four police officers and seven civilians lost their lives during a seven-hour attack on Ayilamo. The police reported that armed bandits stormed the community around 6:12 p.m. on Thursday and had a long gun battle with police operatives.
By the early hours of Friday, the attackers were pushed back into the nearby forest. The four officers who died were identified as Paul Ina, Mohammed Yusuf, Oge Ikechukwu, and Edeh Andrew. The police later recovered their bodies from surrounding bushes during search and rescue operations.
Seven civilians were also killed, and their bodies were taken to a mortuary. A community member, Tyolumun Ugande, told reporters that about 200 suspected armed herders invaded Ayilamo, shooting at residents and burning homes.
Umishi Terungwa, who is the Secretary of the Ayilamo Security Committee, confirmed the attack. He noted that the victims included community elders, residents, and security personnel. Mr Alia praised the SSS officers in Benue and neighboring Nasarawa State for their quick and professional actions that led to the arrest of the three suspects.
He said these arrests could help security agencies understand what happened and find others involved. “We urge the SSS to step up its investigation and make good use of the information from the suspects in custody,” the governor stated.
“Every lead should be carefully followed to find and arrest the remaining accomplices, sponsors, and anyone connected to the attack. All those found guilty must face the law,” he added. The governor also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, the people of Ayilamo, and the Inspector-General of Police over the officers' deaths.
“We honor their bravery and sacrifice and pray that God gives their families and loved ones the strength to cope with this loss,” he said. After the attack, the Benue Police Command announced that more tactical teams had been sent to Ayilamo to boost security.
The command is collaborating with other security agencies to strengthen safety and maintain operations in the area. The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, praised the officers who responded to the attack and paid tribute to those who died.
He also encouraged residents to stay calm and alert, and to provide useful information that could help ongoing security efforts. This latest attack comes nearly a year after the Ayilamo Police Station was made a divisional headquarters due to security issues in some parts of Benue.
On August 20, 2025, the police announced new area commands and upgraded five police stations, including Ayilamo, to divisional headquarters. This restructuring aimed to improve police response in vulnerable communities and areas with tough terrain.
The killing of 11 people, including four police officers, has raised fresh worries about security in Ayilamo and nearby communities in Logo Local Government Area. Mr Alia assured residents that his government would keep working with security agencies to stop further attacks, protect residents, and bring back peace.
He urged residents to stay alert and follow the law while providing timely information to security agencies.
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