Kogi State has been rocked by two deadly attacks on police personnel, leaving three officers dead and several firearms stolen, the state police confirmed on Sunday.
The first attack occurred around 8:00 a.m. when about 20 armed hoodlums ambushed officers of the 70 PMF Kabba, attached to the Isanlu Area Command, at their patrol point along Ilafin-Odogbe Road in Yagba East Local Government Area. ASP Umar Suleman and CPL Bitrus Isaac were shot dead, while the attackers seized two AK-47 rifles, each loaded with 28 rounds. Patrol teams were immediately mobilized, and the officers’ bodies were taken to the General Hospital mortuary for autopsy. Joint security forces are combing the area to track the assailants and recover the stolen weapons.
A second ambush occurred around 11:30 a.m., targeting personnel of the 37 PMF attached to the Abugi Community as they returned to camp. Inspector Johnson David and Inspector Ehinola Oluwole were killed, and their rifles, also loaded with ammunition, were stolen. Tragically, a civilian passerby, Isah Gilad, was also shot dead during the attack. The victims were evacuated to the Federal Teaching Hospital in Lokoja for autopsy, and security forces have intensified operations to apprehend the attackers.
The Kogi State Police Command has placed all formations on red alert, urging officers to remain vigilant. Investigations continue, with surveillance and intelligence-gathering underway to locate the hoodlums and recover the stolen firearms.
Earlier reports from standarddailypress described scenes of chaos as residents rushed to rescue the victims, though the officers’ lifeless bodies were already on the ground. The twin attacks underscore the escalating insecurity in Yagba East and surrounding areas, putting local communities and law enforcement under increasing threat.
