A police inspector attached to the Operation Zenda Joint Task Force (JTF) in Benue State has been killed, while a personnel of the Nigeria Forest and Hunters Services sustained serious injuries.
This followed a midnight attack by suspected gunmen on a security checkpoint along the Otukpo–Ohimini road.
According to local sources, the assailants struck around midnight on Thursday, opening fire on security operatives manning the post.
During the exchange of gunfire, Inspector Akpan Ogbole of the Nigeria Police Force and Abechi Oche of the Nigeria Forest and Hunters Services were hit by bullets.
“The armed men and the security personnel engaged in a fierce gun duel that left the two officers critically injured,” a source said, adding that the attackers fled with an AK-47 rifle belonging to the police and a pump-action gun assigned to the Hunters Service.
The victims were rushed to the Otukpo General Hospital, where Inspector Ogbole was confirmed dead. Oche, who was earlier feared dead, was later stabilised and is responding to treatment, according to a family member who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Udeme Edet, said an investigation had commenced to track down the perpetrators and recover the stolen weapons.