In a dramatic midnight face-off, operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command on patrol duty along the Kadarko-Makurdi Road in Keana Local Government Area narrowly escaped a deadly ambush staged by gunmen suspected to have emerged from the Benue forest.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed in a statement issued on Friday in Lafia that the attempted attack occurred at about 10:55 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9.
“The gunmen who ambushed and attacked our personnel came from Benue forest and started shooting sporadically,” Nansel said.
He explained that the police operatives, undeterred by the sudden gunfire, displayed tactical prowess and bravery in confronting the attackers.
“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,” he said.
Despite the successful resistance, the encounter was not without casualties. Inspector Sunday Apochie sustained gunshot wounds during the firefight.
Nansel said the reinforcement team from the Kadarko Division swiftly mobilized to the scene, recovered the officer’s service AK-47 rifle, and evacuated him to the Primary Health Care Centre in Kadarko. He was later transferred to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, where he is currently receiving treatment and showing signs of recovery.
Sadly, a stray bullet fired by the fleeing attackers struck and killed a civilian who lived near the area of the confrontation.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Shetima Jauro-Mohammed, has ordered a full-scale investigation and a manhunt to apprehend the fleeing gunmen. He also extended his sympathies to the bereaved family.
“The commissioner visited the injured officer at the hospital and gave him succour,” the statement added.
Nansel assured the public that the command remains committed to rooting out criminal elements and preventing a recurrence of such attacks.
