The attack, which began around 11 a.m., escalated across several settlements, including Asha, Ortese, and Dudu—all located within proximity of Ortese, home to thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The gunmen were said to have stormed the area, shooting sporadically and chasing farmers from their farmlands.
The attackers reportedly ambushed Udei around 2 p.m., where they engaged security forces in a fierce gunfight, leading to the death of four Mobile Policemen. The assailants also reportedly seized the officers’ rifles during the exchange.
According to community sources, the attackers initially attempted to overrun Daudu, another nearby settlement, but were repelled by a joint force of security personnel and local youths. The violence then spread from Asha to Ortese before intensifying at Udei.
Confirming the incident, a community leader and former Acting Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Matthew Mnyan, according to a report by Vanguard, said that the coordinated attack caused widespread panic in the area.
