BREAKING: Bandit Attack In Benue Leaves 11 Police Officers Missing And Presumed Dead, Vehicles Burnt, Machine Gun Stolen

Eleven police officers are missing and presumed dead following a deadly attack by bandits on a security patrol in Benue State on Friday, September 19, 2025.

According to a report from the Benue Special Operations Command, a combined team of elite operatives from the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Operation Zenda, and Forest Guard embarked on a patrol to a known bandit camp at Agu Centre in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.

The situation report said the patrol team came under intense gunfire from the bandits, resulting in the burning of two police Hilux vehicles and the theft of a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) belonging to Operation Zenda.

An unknown number of officers were reportedly killed, and their bodies have yet to be recovered from the bandits’ camp.

“Sitrep x Benue Special Operations: Yesterday, Friday 19/09/2025, at about 0800 hrs, a combined team of SIS Elite Operatives, Operation Zenda, and Forest Guard embarked on a patrol to one of the bandits’ camps located at Agu Centre under Katsina Ala LGA, Benue State,” it said.

“The combined team of operatives came under intense fire from the bandits. Two police Hiluxes were burned down, one GPMG belonging to Operation Zenda was carted away. An unknown number of police officers were killed. As of now, we are yet to retrieve the bodies from the bandits’ camp.”

Despite sustaining damage from bullets, the operatives successfully protected an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and moved it to the nearest army checkpoint.

The command lauded the officers for their gallantry and professionalism during the engagement, but confirmed that 11 officers remain unaccounted for and are presumed dead.

“Our APC has been damaged by bullets from the assailants, but we managed to protect it. (We) successfully removed it to the nearest army checkpoint. As of now, 11 police officers are missing, presumed dead,” it added.  (SaharaReporters)