In a tragic escalation of violence, armed attackers believed to be herdsmen have killed two security operatives in Benue State. The victims, a soldier and a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were ambushed in the Udeku community of Kwande Local Government Area.
The Deadly Ambush on Security Personnel
The incident occurred on the evening of Saturday, January 10, 2026. According to accounts from residents, the security officers were returning from Aga Market around 5:00 p.m. after refilling cooking gas when they drove into a well-laid trap. The assailants had blocked the road before opening fire on their vehicle.
Official confirmations provided slightly varying timelines but corroborated the fatal outcome. The Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State, DSP Udeme Edet, stated the operatives were killed at about 5:50 p.m. Meanwhile, the NSCDC State PRO, Michael Ejelikwu, placed the time of the attack at approximately 3:00 p.m.
Ejelikwu identified the fallen NSCDC officer as CCA Tijani Idris with service number 76691, who was attached to the Operation Whirl Stroke joint taskforce. He was originally from the Kaduna State Command but was seconded to the anti-insurgency operation in Benue.
A Recurring Location of Violence
This latest attack is particularly chilling as it happened at the same spot where five local farmers were killed just four days earlier. Those victims were reportedly harvesting yam and Bambara nuts on their farms when they were attacked.
Akerigba Lawrence, a former Supervisory Councillor in Kwande LGA, provided a detailed account. He stated the assault on the security officers happened at Udeku, in the Maav-ya, Mbakyor council ward, at about 4:26 p.m. Lawrence lamented that the attackers, who arrived in large numbers, also engaged in the destruction of property.
"The attackers, who allegedly arrived in large numbers, also burnt houses and destroyed farms and economic trees," Lawrence said. He added that one soldier managed to escape the ambush and later reported the incident at a police station in Jato-Aka.
Mounting Humanitarian Crisis and Fear
The violence has triggered a severe humanitarian situation, displacing residents from multiple communities. Lawrence expressed deep concern over the safety and health of those forced from their homes.
"Jato-Aka town, which is hosting displaced persons from about five council wards, is no longer safe. There is fear everywhere, and many people are leaving without knowing where to go," he explained. He highlighted the lack of adequate medical support for the displaced, exposing them to significant health risks.
Despite the tragedy, the NSCDC reaffirmed its commitment to its duty. PRO Michael Ejelikwu described the incident as a hazard of their calling, stating, "the NSCDC remain determined and committed in confronting insecurity in whatever form." The corps extended its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased officer.
This attack underscores the persistent and deadly security challenges facing Benue State's agrarian communities, where clashes between farmers and herders have frequently turned violent, now even directly targeting state security forces.
