Suspected Herders Kill DPO, Five Others In Benue State

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Tuesday reportedly ambushed and killed the Divisional Police Officer of Naka division, Mamud Abubakar.

Naka is the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

A source said the DPO, who was a Superintendent of Police, was killed around 3.30pm on Tuesday while he was returning from Makurdi after he went for peace escort.

The DPO was said to be returning to his station at Naka when he was ambushed and killed by gunmen.

The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, when contacted on the phone, confirmed the incident.

He said, “It is true that the DPO was killed; he was going for peace escort and they cleared the road for him. On his way to Naka they laid ambush for him.”

Meanwhile, according to reports, no fewer than five persons have been killed in different communities in the council between Sunday and Tuesday.

The Chairman of Gwer West LGA, Ayande Andrew, claimed that the DPO was killed by herders.

He said, “The road was blocked by herdsmen and the DPO was on his way to Makurdi when they ambushed him; he was the only person in the vehicle along that road.”

On the other five victims, he said, “Someone was killed this morning (Tuesday) at the Tsenge village by herdsmen and another four people were killed at Babowa community on Sunday.”