A renewed attack by armed herders on Sunday has left at least four Mobile Police officers dead in Udei, a community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The assault occurred around 11 a.m., just a short distance from Yelewata, a community attacked by bandits a little over two weeks ago. According to local sources, the attackers also attempted to invade nearby Daudu but were pushed back by a joint force of security personnel and local youth.

The violence reportedly began in Asha community, where the herders fired shots and forced farmers off their lands. The attack soon spread toward Ortese, a settlement housing thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Military forces stationed nearby responded swiftly, engaging the attackers in the bush and preventing further bloodshed in Ortese.

Mr. Matthew Mnyan, a community leader and former acting Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, confirmed the incident. He said, “The attackers struck Asha close to Ortese around 11 a.m., forcing people out of their farms. The army responded with armoured vehicles and fought them off for about an hour.”

He added that the situation escalated around 2 p.m. when the attackers launched a coordinated strike on Udei, killing four Mobile Policemen during a fierce gunfight.

“They even resurfaced in Ortese later in the evening, and residents, including IDPs, are terrified. When I contacted the Area Commander, he confirmed they had deployed officers to Udei, but darkness is making it difficult, and people remain on edge,” he said.

This latest attack comes just over two weeks after an assault on Yelewata community claimed more than 200 lives, leaving many injured and displaced.

Efforts to reach the Benue Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, for comment were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.