Gunmen on Wednesday night launched a deadly attack in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing three police officers and two vigilante members on duty at a checkpoint.
The assailants, who struck suddenly, left the community in fear and mourning as residents expressed shock over the scale of the violence. The incident has been described as one of the deadliest attacks on security operatives in the state in recent months.
Egbe, a border town that links Kogi to parts of Kwara and Ekiti, has witnessed rising tension over insecurity, with cases of kidnapping and banditry reported in recent times.
The killing of the officers has renewed concerns about the safety of communities and the capacity of security operatives, including local vigilantes, who often work alongside the police in rural areas.
Reacting to the incident, the Kogi State Government condemned the attack and ordered a full-scale investigation. In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, described the killing as “gruesome” and assured that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
“The Kogi State Government has received with deep concern reports of security breaches at two flashpoints in the state, including an attack on security personnel in Yagba West Local Government Area, which tragically led to the loss of some gallant police officers, and a kidnapping incident along the Lokoja-Obajana road,” Fanwo said.
He confirmed that 17 abducted passengers along the Lokoja-Obajana road were rescued through the intervention of the Nigerian Army and local hunters, describing the effort as commendable and proof of the resilience of security forces.
The Commissioner extended condolences to the families of the slain officers, stressing that Governor Usman Ododo’s administration would never bow to criminality.
“Their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and their courage will continue to inspire the fight against crime in our dear state,” he added.
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