Several civilians, including a recently married soldier, were killed in a deadly attack on the Ikobi-Ochekwu hamlet in the Apa Local Government Area of Benue State late Wednesday night by gunmen suspected of being herders.
The attack continued for several hours, according to reports received Thursday morning.
Ochofie, a local, told the Daily Post that the attackers broke into the town during the night and fired randomly at people, setting houses on fire.
Many people are still missing, thus the exact number of casualties is still unknown.
According to a source, “two additional bodies were found in nearby Ijaha in the early hours of Thursday. They were identified as Sani Ngbede and Aduba Paul Ogboyi.”
Authorities have not yet formally confirmed the identity of additional fatalities, including the killed soldiers who were reportedly newly married.
A Nigerian Army soldier serving in Operation Udoka was recently slain in Anambra State by suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Read Also: Lloyd Criticizes Fubara, Says Wike Was Not Alone Injured in Rivers Crisis
On Saturday, May 18, 2025, the valiant soldier was reportedly killed after leaving his post to attend a party at the Forward Operating Base in Uli.
It was learned that the person, wearing his military camouflage gear, attended the event, which was a strippers’ party called “Ladies’ Jamboree.”
The soldier was discovered missing during a tactical operation, according to a security source who spoke to The PUNCH.
The soldier’s disappearance was uncovered during a tactical operation, according to the source. Later, it was discovered that he had sneaked off of the base in uniform to go to a strippers’ party at a neighboring hotel without authorization. Suspected IPOB/ESN fighters confronted him there and shot him dead. Troops later retrieved his dead body at the scene, along with the body of a baby.
“His weapon has been recovered and is in military custody at this time.”
According to reports, the Defense Headquarters is in charge of Operation Udoka.
As of the time this report was filed, reports state that efforts to get in touch with Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, the Director of Defense Media Operations, had not been successful.
In the South-East region, where the IPOB and ESN have been accused of carrying out violent operations against state troops, the most recent event is noteworthy since it is the most recent in a string of targeted attacks on security officers.
