The Benue State Police Command, in Benue State in north-central Nigeria, says its officers killed four suspected bandits during a security operation in Orokam, a community in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state.
Okay News reports that the incident happened during a routine stop-and-search operation carried out by operatives of Operation Zenda, a police-led Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed for security operations in the area.
In a statement issued on Friday, the police spokesperson, Udeme Edet, said the officers were on duty at a checkpoint in Orokam on Thursday, 29 January 2026, when they stopped a black Golf 3 vehicle for inspection.
Edet said the occupants resisted the search and tried to escape arrest. She added that two of the suspects brought out AK-47 rifles and fired at the officers, forcing the police team to return fire.
She said, “On Thursday, 29 January 2026, at about 5:00 pm, operatives of Operation Zenda Joint Task Force were on lawful stop-and-search duty at a police checkpoint in Orokam when they intercepted a black Golf 3 vehicle.”
The police said the exchange of gunfire ended with four armed suspects killed, while one other suspect escaped into a nearby bush.
Items recovered at the scene included one AK-47 rifle, a magazine loaded with 15 rounds of live ammunition, the vehicle allegedly used by the suspects, and items the police described as suspected criminal charms.
The command said a manhunt had started for the suspect who fled, while detectives continued investigations into the incident and the group’s activities.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Ifeanyi Emenari, praised the officers involved for what the command described as bravery and professionalism, and assured residents that the police would continue efforts to reduce armed crime in the state.
He also urged members of the public to remain law-abiding and support security agencies with credible information that could help prevent attacks and identify suspects.
Benue has faced repeated security concerns in recent years, including attacks linked to armed groups and kidnapping. In August 2025, a joint security team from Benue and Enugu states arrested a suspected kidnap gang leader in Orokam, highlighting the area’s ongoing security challenges.
