YAGBA West Local Council in Kogi State was thrown into mourning on Wednesday after armed bandits launched a deadly ambush on a police checkpoint, killing three officers and carting away their rifles.
News Point Nigeria reports that the incident, which occurred at the Ofili checkpoint along the Egbe–Okunran–Pategi Road, has heightened fears over the rising wave of insecurity in Okunland and renewed calls for urgent intervention by security agencies and government authorities.
According to eyewitness accounts, the policemen had barely arrived at their duty post when the bandits opened fire on their Hilux patrol vehicle.
“They came for their guns, obviously. Two policemen died instantly during the gun battle, while the third officer died 30 minutes later at the E-Unit of ECWA Hospital, Egbe,” a witness told this newspaper.
The attackers reportedly seized the officers’ rifles before fleeing the scene. The victims’ bodies have since been deposited at the hospital morgue.
Confirming the incident, Chairman of Yagba West Local Council, Tosin Olokun, described the slain officers as “gallant men who paid the supreme price in the line of duty.”
In a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Adeyemi Babarinde Sunday, Olokun expressed deep condolences to the Nigeria Police Force, the bereaved families, and the community.
“They worked tirelessly to protect lives, maintain peace, and ensure security across Yagba West and Kogi State at large. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten,” he said.
In what appears to be an emergency security measure, Olokun ordered all herders who recently migrated into Yagba West to vacate the council area within 24 hours, stressing that the local government would not tolerate further threats to peace and security.
The attack is the latest in a series of violent assaults targeting both civilians and security personnel in the North-Central region.
Some experts warn that the brazen daylight assault highlights the audacity of armed groups operating across rural Kogi and neighbouring states.
Residents in Yagba West have called for increased military and police presence, fearing more attacks if urgent action is not taken.
The Kogi State Police Command has yet to issue a detailed statement on the attack, but local authorities have pledged to work with security agencies to track down the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, community members are on edge, with many describing the killings as a wake-up call for both the state and federal governments to prioritise the security of law enforcement officers who remain on the frontline of Nigeria’s war against banditry.