The Benue State Police Command has announced the successful neutralization of 12 bandits during a gunfight, although it came at the cost of one police officer’s life. The violent encounter occurred as members of the Operation Zenda Joint Taskforce were en route to a known criminal hideout at Agwabi in the Tombo ward of Buruku Local Government Area.
The coordinated raid was part of a broader directive by Commissioner of Police Steve H. Yabanet, following intelligence about criminal groups regrouping in the region. The police team found themselves ambushed by the bandits, which led to an intense exchange of gunfire.
Despite the ambush, the police managed to subdue the attackers with superior firepower, resulting in the deaths of 12 bandits while others fled. The operatives recovered:
- Three AK-47 rifles
- Ammunition
- Camouflage gear
- Other items from the scene
Inspector Terfa Anyiatse, who was involved in the operation, succumbed to gunshot wounds, marking a somber note to the otherwise successful operation. His body has been taken to the morgue for formal procedures.
Related Police Operations
In related operations, police efforts in Daudu and Makurdi resulted in the arrest of:
- Five robbery suspects
- Thirty-two suspected cultists
Along with the recovery of seven locally made pistols. Investigations into these incidents are ongoing.
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