Benue: Two Police Officers Killed as Gunmen Ambush DPO’s Convoy in Ayilamo - Newstrends
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Benue: Two Police Officers Killed as Gunmen Ambush DPO’s Convoy in Ayilamo

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Police Arrest 34 Cameroonians, Nigeriens Over Suspected Illegal Activities
Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu

Benue: Two Police Officers Killed as Gunmen Ambush DPO’s Convoy in Ayilamo

Two newly deployed Mobile Police officers have been killed after suspected armed herders ambushed the convoy of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ayilamo Police Division in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The attack occurred at about 6pm on Monday, September 14, 2026, as the DPO was returning to Ayilamo from Makurdi, where he had travelled on official duty.

The Benue State Police Command confirmed that two officers in the DPO’s entourage were killed in the ambush. Their identities had not been publicly released as of the latest reports.

The latest incident occurred just four days after another deadly attack on Ayilamo in which four Mobile Police officers and seven civilians were killed, according to the police.

The earlier attack began at about 6:12pm on Thursday, September 10, when suspected armed bandits invaded the community. Police Mobile Force personnel, tactical teams and conventional police officers responded and engaged the attackers in a gun battle that lasted about seven hours.

The police said the security personnel eventually repelled the attackers, forcing them to withdraw into surrounding forests in the early hours of September 11. The bodies of the four slain officers and seven civilians were subsequently recovered.

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The four officers killed in that earlier attack were identified as Paul Ina, Mohammed Yusuf, Oge Ikechukwu and Edeh Andrew.

Residents gave a different account of the attackers, with some alleging that a large number of suspected armed herders entered the community from the direction of Alufu Road in neighbouring Taraba State. They also reported shootings and the burning of houses during the assault.

The police, however, have generally referred to the attackers as suspected armed bandits, while the identities and affiliations of those responsible have not been conclusively established.

The latest ambush brings the number of police officers killed in attacks around Ayilamo within four days to six, based on the police-confirmed casualties from the two incidents.

Residents have expressed concern over the presence of armed men in forests and abandoned settlements around Tombo Council Ward, where Ayilamo is located.

The repeated violence has renewed concerns about the safety of residents and security personnel in Logo Local Government Area, particularly communities located close to forested areas and routes vulnerable to armed ambushes.

The Ayilamo Police Station was upgraded to a divisional headquarters in August 2025 as part of efforts to strengthen police response in vulnerable communities across Benue.

Despite the upgrade and increased security presence, Ayilamo has continued to experience deadly attacks, highlighting the security challenges confronting communities in the area.

The Benue Police Command had earlier announced the deployment of additional tactical personnel following the September 10 attack. The command also said it was working with other security agencies to strengthen operations and protect residents in affected communities.

There was also a development concerning the welfare of police families following the recent deaths.

On Tuesday, September 15, the Benue State Police Command presented insurance cheques to families of police officers who had died in the line of duty.

Commissioner of Police Cletus Nwadiogbu, while presenting the cheques in Makurdi, conveyed the condolences of Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu to the bereaved families.

He said the financial benefits could not replace the lives lost but were intended to provide some relief and support, particularly for the welfare of the officers’ children.

Meanwhile, authorities have not publicly announced the identities of those responsible for the latest ambush or disclosed arrests directly connected to the September 14 attack.

There have, however, been arrests linked to the earlier September 10 Ayilamo attack. Governor Hyacinth Alia recently commended the Department of State Services (DSS) over the arrest of three suspects allegedly connected with that attack.

The arrests relate to the earlier incident and do not by themselves establish that the same suspects carried out the latest ambush.

The two attacks within four days have increased pressure on security agencies to intensify surveillance and operations around Ayilamo and surrounding forested areas.

The latest killings have also highlighted the risks faced by police officers deployed to conflict-prone and remote communities, where armed groups can exploit difficult terrain and isolated settlements.

The investigation into the latest Benue attack is expected to focus on identifying the attackers, establishing how the DPO’s convoy was ambushed and preventing further attacks on security personnel and civilians in Logo LGA.

Benue: Two Police Officers Killed as Gunmen Ambush DPO’s Convoy in Ayilamo

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NDLEA Arrests Woman With 266 Rounds of Live AK-47 Ammunition on Abuja-Kaduna Expressway

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NDLEA Arrests Woman With 266 Rounds of Live AK-47 Ammunition on Abuja-Kaduna Expressway

 

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a woman identified as Aisha Isah after allegedly recovering 266 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition from her along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

 

The suspect was reportedly arrested at a toll gate during a patrol operation by NDLEA operatives along the busy highway.

 

The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

 

According to the statement, the ammunition recovered from the woman consisted of 266 live rounds meant for an AK-47 rifle.

 

However, the NDLEA did not disclose where the suspect was travelling from, her intended destination or the circumstances surrounding the possession and transportation of the ammunition.

 

The arrest comes amid intensified security operations across the country, particularly along major highways and other routes suspected to be used for the movement of illicit substances and other prohibited items.

 

In a related operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 68-year-old man, identified as Ifeanyi Egwolonwu, at Gwargwaje in Zaria, Kaduna State, along the Zaria-Kano Expressway.

 

The suspect was allegedly found with 2,770 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 100 ampoules of diazepam injection, 11,000 tablets of diazepam and 4,500 tablets of Exol-5.

 

The agency also reported several arrests and major drug seizures in different parts of the country as part of its ongoing operations against drug trafficking and related criminal activities.

 

The NDLEA has yet to provide further details about the investigation into the alleged ammunition possession by Aisha Isah.

 

NDLEA Arrests Woman With 266 Rounds of Live AK-47 Ammunition on Abuja-Kaduna Expressway

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How 40 Motorcycles-Riding Bandits Ambushed, Brutalised Six Kwara Security Operatives

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Kwara Police Deny Shooting Motorcyclist at Oyun Bridge, Explain Viral Video

How 40 Motorcycles-Riding Bandits Ambushed, Brutalised Six Kwara Security Operatives

 

Suspected bandits have reportedly ambushed and brutalised six members of the Iru Ekun Security Network in Bani community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

 

The attack occurred as the operatives were returning from a meeting in Kaiama town, shortly before reaching Bani community.

 

The chairman of the private security organisation, Isiak Olayiwola, disclosed details of the incident, describing the attack as heartbreaking and a disturbing development for community-based security efforts in the state.

 

According to Olayiwola, the six operatives were travelling back to Bani when between 30 and 40 motorcycles carrying armed men suddenly emerged and launched an attack on them.

 

He said the attackers were heavily armed with AK-47 rifles and other weapons, adding that the security operatives had only two firearms among them for personal protection.

 

Olayiwola explained that his men were not on a mission to confront any armed group but were simply returning from their meeting when they were ambushed.

 

He said, “They were returning from a meeting in Kaiama town to Bani when they were ambushed on their way back.”

 

The security chief added that the attackers opened fire on the operatives shortly before they entered the community.

 

He expressed gratitude that none of the six members was killed during the attack, attributing their survival to divine intervention.

 

A video of the incident, which surfaced on October 26, showed the captured operatives sitting on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs while armed men interrogated them.

 

In the footage, the captors repeatedly questioned the victims about their membership of the Iru Ekun Security Network and their activities in Bani community.

 

One of the armed men was heard challenging the operatives over what he described as their refusal to heed earlier warnings against associating with the security organisation or accommodating its members in the community.

 

One of the captives, identified as Jelili Alagbere, who was wearing an Iru Ekun-branded shirt, was questioned about his involvement in the organisation.

 

Another captive, Yusuf Alagbere, reportedly identified himself as a hunter, explaining that he had been invited by some individuals known as the Elere boys.

 

A third captive, identified as Rafiu, was also questioned about his identity and connection with the security outfit.

 

An elderly man among the captives, however, denied belonging to the organisation, insisting that he was not an Iru Ekun member.

 

Towards the end of the recording, the armed men reportedly asked the captives whether they would continue participating in the organisation’s activities. The victims were heard responding in the negative.

 

Olayiwola subsequently identified one of the suspected attackers as Sardauna, alleging that he was among those who participated in the shooting and personally recorded the interrogation.

 

He claimed that Sardauna was holding the phone and conducting the questioning while also opening fire on the security operatives.

 

The chairman said the video eventually found its way to the security organisation, although the person who recorded it was allegedly unaware that it would reach them.

 

Meanwhile, Olayiwola commended the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, for his efforts towards securing the rescue of the six operatives.

 

The incident has raised fresh concerns about the security situation in parts of Kwara State, particularly the dangers confronting local security groups involved in protecting vulnerable communities against armed attacks and kidnapping.

 

The development also highlights the growing risks faced by community-based security operatives operating in areas where heavily armed criminal groups reportedly maintain a presence.

 

How 40 Motorcycles-Riding Bandits Ambushed, Brutalised Six Kwara Security Operatives

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‘My Only Hope’: Mother Mourns Son Found Beheaded in Cross River

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‘My Only Hope’: Mother Mourns Son Found Beheaded in Cross River

The body of a 14-year-old boy, identified simply as Ogar, has been discovered without his head in a river at Yahe community in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The tragic discovery followed the teenager’s disappearance from home, leaving his family and residents of the community in shock.

According to a report by Vanguard, Ogar was last seen on Friday afternoon after returning from school. He reportedly left home shortly after having his meal but failed to return.

His mother, Agnes, said the family became worried when they could not find him and subsequently organised a search.

However, their search ended in tragedy on Saturday afternoon when the boy’s body was discovered in the Yahe River, about one kilometre from the community.

The grieving mother, who reportedly lost her husband three years ago, lamented that her son was her only source of hope.

“I don’t know who did this wicked act to me — my only source of hope after his father died three years ago. His body without the head was found at the river,” she said.

Agnes expressed confusion over how her son ended up in the river, explaining that the water was usually dirty and brownish at this time of the year and was not commonly used for swimming or washing clothes.

She also said she could not establish whether someone had taken the teenager to the river or how he got there.

A classmate of the deceased, identified as Jacob, reportedly said Ogar did not inform him or their other friends that he intended to go anywhere with anybody.

He added that he only learnt about the tragedy after news emerged that the teenager’s body had been discovered.

Meanwhile, a source at the Yahe Police Station confirmed that the incident was being investigated.

The police source, however, declined to provide further details, explaining that the Divisional Police Officer was away in Calabar.

“I can tell you we are investigating the matter,” the source said.

The circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death, including the whereabouts of his missing head and the identity of those responsible, remain unclear.

Residents are awaiting further details from the police as investigations continue.

‘My Only Hope’: Mother Mourns Son Found Beheaded in Cross River

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