Gunmen suspected to be herders have killed a police Inspector, Yakubu Dauda and went away with his service rifle in the Chwelnyap Rim Community of Riyom local government area, Plateau State.
Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Riyom LGA, David Tsado disclosed this during a visit by the fact-finding committee set up by Governor Caleb Mutfwang to investigate the causes of violence plaguing the state.
According to Tsado, the incident occurred on Monday while the officers were on an operation in the area.
He explained that the gunmen, who arrived in their large numbers, ambushed the officers, and opened fire on them. resulting in the death of the officer.
The DPO further explained that the gunmen terrorising the area were well-armed, adding that despite mobilising their men after the attack, they were unable to overcome the gunmen’s resistance.
“Yesterday, my men were on ground in the community following a report of security threats in the area, not knowing that some gunmen had laid an ambush.
“In the process of tracing the gunmen, they opened fire on our men and one of us, inspector Yakubu Dauda, unfortunately lost his life,” he said.
The DPO added that the corpse of the slain policeman has been deposited in the hospital.
“Today, the Commissioner of Police deployed more men to take the fight to their den, but it was another heavy encounter. It got to a stage that we have to retreat, “ he said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the fact-finding committee, Major General Nicholas Rogers, while speaking on the committee’s visit to the area, said they were at the LGA to find out what went wrong resulting to the incessant killing and attacks in the area.
“It is a very bad situation. We are here to identify the problems and find lasting solutions,” Rogers said.
The youth and community leaders informed the committee that many villages were attacked, adding that in the last one month, about 9 persons were killed and 33 houses burnt in the process.
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