An officer of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command has been confirmed dead after operatives stopped an attempted kidnapping in Guto Village, a border community in Bwari Area Council.
The armed group, estimated to be about thirty, reportedly invaded the community in the early hours of Wednesday and made for a residence where they intended to abduct a man and his family.
The spokesperson for the command, Josephine Adeh, said the distress call came in around 1.10 a.m. leading to the immediate deployment of operatives from the Bwari Division Surveillance Team and the IGP Special Intervention Squad.
She said the attackers opened fire the moment they spotted the officers approaching the targeted building.
According to her, “Upon sighting the responding police teams, the attackers, who had already attempted to forcefully enter the targeted residence, opened fire.
“The officers engaged the assailants with precision and superior firepower, resulting in a fierce gun duel. Two of the criminals were neutralised, while the remaining fled into the surrounding bushes and mountainous terrain.”
Adeh confirmed that one police officer was hit during the exchange and later died at Bwari General Hospital where he was rushed for treatment.
She stated, “Tragically, one police officer sustained a fatal gunshot injury during the exchange and was rushed to Bwari General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical practitioner. The Command deeply regrets this loss.”
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Miller Dantawaye, praised the response of the operatives and described the fallen officer as a courageous man who gave his life in the line of duty.
He said, “He was a courageous hero who paid the supreme price in the service of protecting the residents of the FCT. Our operations will not slow down. We will continue to go after criminal elements threatening our communities.”
The commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements. The command’s emergency numbers remain active for public use.
