Gunmen suspected to be bandits reportedly shot and killed a commander of the agro ranger unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Benue State. The victim, identified as Mike Ode, met his demise in Shaapera community, situated in the Gwer West Local Government Area of the state. The deceased’s uncle, Nicholas Ode, revealed that his brother was brutally murdered in Shaapera village on Monday, and his body was subsequently taken to the morgue of Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.
According to Nicholas Ode, the tragic event occurred during a special assignment in Shaapera village, where a confrontation with herdsmen ensued. In the ensuing gun battle, it was reported that the NSCDC officers managed to eliminate approximately ten of the bandits. Regrettably, one of the four civil defence officers, Mike Ode, was fatally shot while the others narrowly escaped.
The NSCDC Command Public Relations Officer, Mike Ejelikwu, corroborated the incident, affirming that the loss of their personnel would not hinder the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of law-abiding citizens in the state. He reiterated the presence of a specialized unit called the Agro Rangers, strategically positioned across various local government areas, including Gwer West, Logo, Apa, Kwande, and Guma, to safeguard agricultural investments.
Ejelikwu further stated that the deceased was killed in a gunfight with the bandits, noting significant casualties on the bandits’ side. “We mourn the loss of one of our agro rangers, who happened to be the operation’s commander,” he expressed, assuring that the command was in contact with the deceased’s family.
