A gunfight in Benue State leaves 12 bandits dead and one police officer, Inspector Terfa Anyiatse, confirmed dead following an ambush in Buruku

The police in Benue State have confirmed the deaths of 12 bandits and one police officer, Inspector Terfa Anyiatse, in a violent encounter that took place in Buruku Local Government Area on March 19, 2025. The incident occurred during an ongoing security operation led by the Operation Zenda Joint Task Force.

According to a statement issued by the police spokesperson for the state, Catherine Anene, the operation was targeting criminal hideouts when the officers were ambushed by the bandits in the early hours of the morning.

“At about 0200hrs, while some operatives were heading to a criminal hideout at Agwabi, Tombo ward, Buruku Local Government Area, they ran into an ambush laid by the bandits. A fierce gun battle ensued,” the statement said.

The police were able to respond to the ambush with superior firepower, eventually overpowering the bandits. The statement confirmed that 12 bandits were neutralised during the crossfire, while others managed to flee the scene. The wounded bandits were taken to the hospital, where they were later confirmed dead.

Items recovered from the scene of the encounter included three AK-47 rifles, six rounds of live ammunition, camouflage uniforms, and various charms.

Regrettably, during the gunfight, one of the police officers, Inspector Terfa Anyiatse, sustained a gunshot wound and was confirmed dead by medical personnel. His body has since been deposited at the morgue.

This tragic incident adds to the ongoing security challenges faced by the region as the authorities continue to combat banditry and criminal activities.

Two people were killed in a renewed communal clash between Umuobor-Akaeze and Ogwor communities in Ebonyi State, intensifying a longstanding feud over disputed land

Two individuals have reportedly been killed in the latest outbreak of violence between the Umuobor-Akaeze and Ogwor communities in the Ishiagu area of Ebonyi State.

The renewed communal clash has escalated tensions in the region, which has been marred by violence over several decades.

According to community sources, the victims—a man and a woman—were ambushed by suspected assailants on Monday while traversing the disputed land.

The clash, centred around the fertile Elueke land, has resulted in numerous fatalities over the years, with many lives lost, including men, women, and innocent passersby. The violence has also led to the destruction of properties worth billions of naira.

The two communities have been at loggerheads for nearly 50 years, with the Elueke land at the heart of the ongoing dispute. The government has struggled to resolve the issue, but the conflict continues to flare up periodically.

The latest killings underscore the deep-seated tensions that remain unresolved despite various attempts at peacemaking.

Governor Francis Nwifuru has intervened in the past, declaring the disputed land a buffer zone to prevent further clashes. Additionally, he set up a committee to address the longstanding crisis. However, according to local sources, these efforts have not yet yielded a lasting solution.

Mr. Nwoba Chika Nwoba, a social media critic, expressed his concern over the escalation of violence. He revealed that he had written to Governor Nwifuru on multiple occasions, urging him to take urgent action to put an end to the conflict.

“I had written twice earlier that the governor, Francis Nwifuru, should do something urgently to bring this to a halt, but I’m not sure he has done anything obvious to end the feud.”

Nwoba further stated, “I’m still calling on the governor to do something to end this lest it becomes too difficult to handle. Every life matters, and the stakeholders of these two towns should join hands to get this unnecessary bloodshed quenched.”

The Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed that he had not yet received a report regarding the recent killings.

The ongoing conflict between the Umuobor-Akaeze and Ogwor communities in Ivo Local Government Area continues to be a major security concern, with both the local authorities and the state government under pressure to prevent further violence.

At least four soldiers have been killed and several wounded in an ISWAP attack on a military base in Warja, Borno State, Nigeria

At least four soldiers have been confirmed dead, and several others have sustained injuries following a devastating attack on a military base in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The assault, which took place on Sunday evening, was carried out by fighters from the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP).

The terrorists, riding on motorcycles, targeted the village of Warja, located between Sabon Gari and Damboa. They quickly overwhelmed the military base, killing soldiers and causing widespread damage.

The attackers set fire to military vehicles and equipment, leaving behind significant destruction. According to a security source, the assailants destroyed numerous armoured vehicles, including tanks and personnel carriers, and looted large quantities of ammunition.

Security expert Zagazola Makama reports that several operational vehicles were burned, and the attackers managed to seize substantial amounts of weapons in the aftermath of the attack.

The assault marks a significant escalation of violence in the region, which has been grappling with insurgent activity for years.

A source from the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) confirmed that the assailants arrived in large numbers, overpowering the personnel stationed at the base.

The sheer scale and speed of the attack have raised concerns about the ability of local security forces to contain the growing insurgency in Borno State.

While the full extent of casualties remains unclear, the loss of life and destruction of military assets have underscored the continued threat posed by ISWAP in the region. Authorities are expected to ramp up security efforts in the wake of the attack, though the situation remains tense.

The assault on the military base in Warja is just the latest in a series of attacks by ISWAP and Boko Haram militants, who have been targeting military installations, civilians, and security forces in the northeast of Nigeria.