Benue Attack: Police Recover 6 Bodies Of Apa Farmers

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the attack on farmers of Asaba, Ojantele and Okpette communities in Apa local government area of the state, stating that six lifeless bodies of the victims were recovered.

In a statement issued by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, on Saturday said in the early hours of 13th March, 2026 suspected armed herders attacked cashew farmers in Asaba, Ojantele, and Okpette communities, “all in Apa LGA. The farmers were reportedly working on their farms when the assailants launched the attack.”

The police explained that joint security teams comprising operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the military, and local youths from the affected communities were immediately mobilised into the forest to carry out search and rescue operations with the aim of locating victims and apprehending the perpetrators.

“At the end of the initial operation, six (6) lifeless bodies were recovered, efforts are ongoing to ensure the safety of residents in the affected communities” the statement said.

“The Commissioner of Police Benue State Command CP Ifeanyi Emenari, wishes to assure the public that reinforcements have been sent to facilitate a more thorough and coordinated operation in the affected forests with the aim of tracking down those responsible for the attack.”

In the meantime, patrols have been intensified across the affected communities and the entire state to prevent any further attacks and to reassure residents of the continued readiness of security operatives to always confront such attacks.

The statement however urged residents to remain calm and continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that may assist ongoing operations.