Kogi Police on Red Alert After Deadly Attacks Leave Three Officers, Civilian Dead

The Kogi State Police Command has placed all formations on red alert after two coordinated attacks on Sunday left three officers and a civilian dead, with several rifles carted away by assailants.

The first incident occurred around 8:00 a.m. when about 20 armed men ambushed operatives of the 70 PMF Kabba Mine, attached to the Isanlu Area Command, at a patrol point along Ilafin-Odogbe Road in Yagba East Local Government Area. Assistant Superintendent of Police Umar Suleman and Corporal Bitrus Isaac were killed, while the attackers made away with two AK-47 rifles, each loaded with 28 rounds of ammunition. Security teams immediately mobilised to the scene, evacuating the bodies to the General Hospital Mortuary and launching intelligence operations and bush combing to track down the gunmen and recover the stolen weapons. The supervising officer on duty has been queried for violating directives on the closure of isolated checkpoints.

A second attack occurred just hours later, at about 11:30 a.m., when personnel of the 37 PMF returning to camp from Abugi Community were ambushed. Inspectors Johnson David and Ehinola Oluwole were shot dead on the spot, and their service rifles, both fully loaded, were seized by the attackers. A civilian passerby, identified as Isah Gilad, was also killed during the assault. The victims’ remains were deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital Mortuary in Lokoja.

Police authorities confirmed that joint security forces have intensified surveillance and search operations across the state to track the perpetrators and recover the stolen arms. The command has warned officers to heighten vigilance as investigations continue.