The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the killing of eight persons in a suspected terrorist assault on a rural community in Otukpo Local Government Area.
Commissioner of Police Cletus Nwadiogbu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that the victims included five adults and three children.
He said he spent most of the day in the affected area with other security operatives to assess the situation and restore calm.
“We have been in the interior since morning. The network was poor because we were in the bush,” Nwadiogbu said. “Some people were killed, and the youths became violent. We have engaged them, and they have now agreed to reopen the road. They are waiting for water tankers to extinguish the fire.”
The commissioner said investigations were underway to determine whether the latest assault was linked to previous attacks in the area.
“We cannot say for now whether it is connected to earlier incidents or whether the terrorists simply wanted to achieve their aim,” he added.
Describing the incident as “purely a terrorist attack,” Nwadiogbu explained that the assailants used guerrilla tactics, striking swiftly before retreating into nearby forests.
“They operate in the guerrilla warfare style. Once they attack, they disappear into the woods, making it difficult to apprehend them,” he said.
He assured residents that security agencies were intensifying efforts to track down the attackers and prevent further violence.
