The Police in Benue have neutralised three suspected bandits during a gun battle following the killing of a 67-year-old man in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region, made this known in a statement posted via X on Monday.
He stated that the incident occurred on March 7 at about 7:30 pm, when armed bandits loyal to a local kingpin identified as “Chen” abducted one Zaki Sughter Agenbeer, 67, from his residence in Une Tongov community.
Makama said the attackers took the victim into the bush and killed him after accusing him of providing information about their activities to security agencies.
According to a source, the DPO Katsina-Ala, in collaboration with the DPO Ukum, subsequently mobilised patrol teams and tactical units to the area. Police operatives later engaged the bandits in a gun duel during which three of the suspects were neutralised.
Makama further disclosed that the corpse of the slain victim was recovered and deposited at the Zaki Ibiam Hospital mortuary, while security operatives have commenced a combing operation in nearby bushes to track down other fleeing suspects.
