At least four policemen are feared dead following a fierce gunfight between armed attackers and security forces in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The violence reportedly began on Sunday morning and persisted until late into the night, as security operatives confronted the assailants who were attempting to storm Ortese, Udei, and nearby communities in the troubled axis.
According to local sources, the clash began around 11 am at Asha village, situated close to Ortese.
Villagers said the attackers descended on farmlands, chasing people away before the violence escalated to Ortese itself.
“We reported this movement to security agencies earlier. We saw visibly personnel but wonder what went wrong that the attackers were able to kill these policemen,” a community leader, who requested anonymity.
Ortese is located near Yelwata, where over 100 people were killed just two weeks ago.
The area currently houses a significant population of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), further heightening the impact of Sunday’s violence.
Udei, another targeted community, lies on the interior side of the axis and is equally vulnerable.
Adding more details, a former government official, Matthew Mnyan, told reporters in Makurdi that the attack occurred in multiple waves.
“It was a simultaneous attack,” he said, explaining that as security forces pushed back invaders in Ortese, “another group attacked Udei and killed four mobile policemen.”
He further revealed that reinforcements had been deployed to Udei but said fear remains widespread, especially among IDPs in Ortese, who are pleading for increased security protection.
Security agencies have yet to officially confirm the attack.
Attempts to reach Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, for comment were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to her mobile phone went unanswered.
When approached for updates on the military’s role in repelling the attackers, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, spokesperson for Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), responded briefly: “Not confirmed. I will get back to you later.”
The Ortese-Udei axis has seen repeated violence in recent times, and the latest incident only deepens concerns over the security situation in Benue State’s rural communities.
