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No fewer than 53 security operatives were killed across the country in the last two weeks, according to a data compiled by Daily Trust from media reports.
They included soldiers, police officers, personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), immigration and customs officers, vigilantes, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and state community watch groups
The figure did not include unreported cases.
While many of the victims were killed by gunmen while responding to attacks on communities, others were gunned down at security checkpoints and outposts.
An investigation by Daily Trust last December had shown that no fewer than 229 personnel of the Nigeria Police Force were killed between January 2023 and October 2024. The officers were reportedly killed by bandits, hoodlums, gunmen, Boko Haram terrorists, cultists and armed robbers across the country.
The latest incidents occurred in Benue and Kogi states where seven police officers and other operatives were killed in separate gunmen attacks last Friday and yesterday, respectively.
In addition to the fatalities, several security personnel were also abducted in the Benue incident.
Few days ago, the Department of State Services (DSS) arraigned nine persons over their alleged involvement in the recent killings in Benue and Plateau states.
The suspects were brought before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The DSS also charged a suspected gunrunner with unlawful possession of seven M16 rifles.
Two of the accused, Haruna Adamu and Muhammad Abdullahi, both from Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, are facing a four-count charge relating to the killings in Abinsi and Yelewata, Guma LGA of Benue. They were alleged to have committed the offence alongside others still at large on June 13.
Two others, Terkende Ashuwa and Amos Alede, both from Guma LGA of Benue, were charged on three counts for alleged reprisal attacks against initial suspects, including the destruction of property which resulted in the loss of 12 cattle in Ukpam village.
A nursing mother watching the level of destruction after the attack
Eleven security operatives were feared killed by gunmen during a joint clearance operation around the Agu Centre general area in Mbatula/Mberev council ward of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.
Our correspondent reports that as of Sunday afternoon, three bodies had been recovered; while eight operatives remained missing.
The latest incident could raise the number of security operatives killed in the state within the past 12 months to over 80 as Governor Hyacinth Alia had, on September 5, disclosed that 76 security operatives were killed by gunmen in Benue within the past one year.
Witnesses said the Friday’s attack occurred on Friday at Agbami community in Katsina-Ala LGA, near Peva and Chanchangi settlements in Taraba State.
It was gathered that around 12pm on Friday, personnel of Operation Zenda, in conjunction with the Benue State Civil Protection Guard (BSCPG) and the Special Intervention Squad (SIS), came under heavy attacks by gunmen.
Consequently, two personnel–one from the police and another from BSCPG–were reported killed in the encounter, while an unconfirmed number from both agencies went missing.
The attackers were also said to have set ablaze one patrol vehicle and carted away an undisclosed quantity of arms and ammunition while one BSCPG operative sustained gunshot wounds and was evacuated to a hospital in Katsina-Ala.
The chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, Shaku Justine, told our correspondent on Sunday that 11 security personnel who participated in the operation were still missing, with three bodies so far recovered.
“Two bodies were recovered late Friday night, while a rescue team led by the state commissioner of police combed the bushes throughout Saturday. By Sunday morning, one more body was recovered,” Justine said.
Residents, however, claimed that as many as 16 operatives went missing during the confrontation.
Some residents also said troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) arrived at the scene around 2.30pm on Friday as reinforcement and that they destroyed the armed herders’ camp, and recovered an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), one motorcycle and other items.
