GUNMEN have killed a police inspector and an Air Force lance corporal during an ambush on a joint security patrol in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Sources told News Point Nigeria that the attackers also fled with the service weapons of the two slain security personnel following the attack.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 5:00am on Tuesday after four security personnel drawn from two guard locations mounted a snap roadblock along the Ganawuri–Sabon Gida road.
According to sources familiar with the incident, the security team came under attack while returning to their respective duty posts after carrying out the operation.
“The team was returning to their respective duty posts when two of the personnel failed to return, prompting troops to immediately launch a clearance operation,” a source said.
During the search operation, security forces discovered the bodies of an Inspector of the Nigeria Police Force and a Lance Corporal of the Nigerian Air Force.
“Their service weapons had been taken by the attackers,” the source added.
The bodies of the slain personnel were subsequently evacuated from the scene, while their motorcycle was recovered by security forces.
Preliminary findings indicated that the ambush occurred near an area previously occupied by herders, who had reportedly moved away with their cattle before reinforcements arrived.
The attack site was also said to be close to a Berom settlement.
Following the incident, security forces commenced cordon-and-search operations around surrounding communities, while clearance operations were launched to track down the fleeing attackers and recover the stolen weapons.
Authorities said investigations into the attack are ongoing, adding that further details would be released as security operations progress.
