The tragic cost of a deadly ambush in Benue State became clearer as search teams recovered eight more bodies of security personnel on Sunday. This brings the total number of confirmed deaths to eleven after a joint police and civil guard team was attacked last Friday in the volatile border area between Katsina-Ala and Ukum Local Government Areas. The recovery effort underscores the severity of the assault that has left the region in a state of tension.

The personnel were on a clearance operation when they were surprised by a large group of armed herdsmen and local militia. The attackers not only killed an estimated sixteen officers but also burned their vehicles and stole motorbikes, leaving the area scattered with casualties and forcing a prolonged search for the missing.

Confirming the grim discovery, the local council chairman, Justine Shaku, stated that the recovery operation was led by the State’s Police Commissioner himself. “The Police Commissioner is right here with me though the atmosphere is still tense and unfriendly,” Shaku reported, indicating the high-level concern and ongoing danger in the area.

Despite the recovery of these eight additional bodies, the Benue State Police Command has yet to release an official statement on the incident. This silence leaves families and the public awaiting full details on the final death toll and the planned response to the brazen attack.