A Police Officer was killed and several houses, including a police station, was burnt down by armed bandits in the early hours of Thursday in Tse Harga community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
The State Police Command and the Chairman of the LGA, confirmed the death of the policeman to newsmen in Makurdi on Thursday.
It was reported that the bandits, suspected to be loyalists of the slain criminal kingpin, Terwase Akwaza, aka ‘Gana’, stormed the rural area at about 4:00 am and started shooting indiscriminately, setting ablaze many structures, including a police pick-up van.
Reports say following the killing, officers and men of the joint military spike operation in the area, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) went in pursuit and killed one of the suspected gunmen during an exchange of gunfire.
Also confirming the killing of the policeman, the Council Chairman of Katsina-Ala, Alfred Atera, noted that the bandits set ablaze the police station and some houses in Harga.
Atera explained that due to the security challenges in the local government areas, the youths in Tse Harga formed a vigilante group and have been doing well to contain insecurity in their domain.
He said, “The armed bandits targeted the youth who formed themselves into a vigilante group.
“They stormed the area (Tse Harga), burn the police station, police pick-up van and killed a policeman there.
“They also burnt several houses which I cannot ascertain now. But as for the locals, nobody was killed.”
“ The incident caused more people to flee the already deserted vicinity, leaving at home only brave men to withstand the challenges.”
The council chairman, however, noted that the quick intervention of security agencies and soldiers of OPWS had restored calm to the community.
