Tragedy has struck again in Benue State as Abechi Oche, a personnel of the Nigeria Forest and Hunters Services, died from injuries sustained in last week’s armed attack on a security checkpoint along the Otukpo–Ohimini road.
Oche’s death, confirmed by a family source who requested anonymity, comes just 72 hours after Inspector Akpan Ogbole of the Operation Zenda Joint Task Force (JTF) was pronounced dead from the same assault. Both men were part of a stop-and-search operation when their team came under heavy gunfire from unidentified attackers around midnight on Thursday.
Witnesses say the gunmen arrived without warning and opened fire, sparking a fierce exchange of bullets. “In the shootout, both officers were hit by gunfire,” a local source recounted, adding that the attackers fled with a police AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun belonging to the Forest and Hunters Services.
The wounded officers were rushed to Otukpo General Hospital. While Inspector Ogbole was confirmed dead on arrival, Oche initially showed signs of recovery before eventually succumbing to his injuries. His passing now brings the total death toll from the ambush to two.
Confirming the development, Benue State Police spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, said investigations have begun to track down the perpetrators, though no arrests have been made yet.
The attack adds to the growing wave of insecurity in parts of Benue, where security operatives often face deadly ambushes from unidentified gunmen during routine patrols and checkpoint operations.
