Reports indicate that unidentified gunmen, suspected to be bandits, have tragically killed a commander of the agro ranger division of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Benue State. The deceased has been identified as Mike Ode.
This unfortunate event took place at Shaapera community in the Gwer West Local Government Area of the state.
According to Nicholas Ode, a relative of the deceased, his brother was brutally murdered in Shaapera village, located in the Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue state, on Monday. The body has been taken to the morgue at Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.
“We were informed that he was on a special assignment in Shaapera village. It was there that a clash occurred with herdsmen, and during the ensuing gunfire exchange, it was confirmed that the NSCDC officers managed to eliminate about 10 of the bandits. Unfortunately, one of the four civil defence personnel, my brother, was fatally shot, while the others managed to escape,” Nicholas Ode shared.
NSCDC Command Public Relations Officer, Mike Ejelikwu, verified the incident, emphasizing that the loss of their personnel would not hinder the command from fulfilling its duty of ensuring security for all law-abiding citizens in the state.
“The NSCDC has a specialized team known as the Agro Rangers stationed in various areas including Gwer West, Logo, Apa, Kwande, and Guma to offer security for agricultural investments, whether in animal husbandry or crop cultivation,” he revealed. Ejelikwu also mentioned that the deceased was killed during a firefight with the bandits, which resulted in significant casualties on the side of the bandits. “We mourn the loss of an agro ranger who happened to be the operation’s commander,” he added, noting that the command is in contact with the deceased’s family.