- Safiu Kehinde
The Nasarawa State Police Command has foiled an attack on its personnel by gunmen on Kadarko-Makurdi Road, a Benue border community in Keana Local Government Area.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday in Lafia by the Command’s spokesperson, Ramhan Nansel.
According to him, the suspected assailants attacked the police personnel on duty on Tuesday, around 10:55 pm.
“The gunmen who ambushed and attacked our personnel came from Benue forest and started shooting sporadically.
“Displaying gallantry and tactical superiority, the personnel engaged the assailants in a fierce gun duel.
“They successfully repelled the attack and forced the criminals to flee into the Benue forest with suspected gunshot wounds.
“Unfortunately, one police officer, Insp Sunday Apochie, sustained gunshot injuries during the exchange,” Nansel said.
He disclosed that a reinforcement team from the Kadarko Division responded swiftly, rescued the injured officer, and recovered his service AK-47 rifle from the scene.
However a civilian residing near the scene of the incident was hit by a stray bullet from the gunmen and tragically lost his life.
Nansel said the injured officer was immediately taken to the Primary Health Care Centre, Kadarko and later referred to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, and currently receiving treatment and responding well.
He said that the Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro-Mohammed, had directed an intensive investigation and manhunt to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The spokesperson added that the CP also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased civilian.
“The commissioner visited the injured officer at the hospital and gave him succour,” he said.
Nansel, therefore, assured the public that all necessary measures were being taken to arrest and bring the perpetrators of the heinous act to justice and forestall future occurrences. NAN