The lifeless body of a police officer, Inspector Mohammed Yakubu, who was declared missing has been recovered in Benue State, weeks after he was reported missing while on official duty.
Yakubu, a police inspector reportedly attached to the 13 Police Mobile Force (PMF) and deployed to the Operation Zenda Joint Task Force (JTF), was found dead in a bush in Guma Local Government Area of the state, according to security sources.
Yakubu’s corpse was said to have been discovered on Thursday, December 18, 2025, near the area where he was last seen before his disappearance.
Security sources reportedly said the body was found in a decomposed state in a bush close to Tse Keleke, an area plagued by recurring insecurity.
The inspector was declared missing on June 13, 2025, after he reportedly disappeared at Tse Keleke, about 10 kilometres from Daudu, while carrying out official duties as part of the joint security operation in the area.
His disappearance had sparked concern among colleagues and residents, particularly amid rising attacks on security personnel in parts of Benue.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the circumstances surrounding Yakubu’s death.
Security sources reportedly said investigations were ongoing to determine how the officer was killed and to track down those responsible.
Benue State has remained a flashpoint of violent attacks linked to armed groups, communal clashes and criminal gangs, with both civilians and security operatives frequently targeted.
Despite repeated security deployments and joint task force operations, incidents of abduction and killings continue to be reported, especially in rural local government areas such as Guma, Logo and Gwer West.
There have been reports of several similar cases involving the killing or disappearance of police officers and other security personnel in Benue and other states of the federation.
There have been reports of gunmen ambushing a police patrol team in several places, killing officers and injuring others during a routine operation.
The killing of Inspector Yakubu has once again raised concerns about the safety of security personnel operating in volatile parts of Benue State, as calls grow louder for improved intelligence, better equipment and stronger protection for officers deployed to high-risk areas.
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