Gunmen ambush, kill two security operatives in Plateau

Gunmen reportedly ambushed a joint security patrol in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State in the early hours of Tuesday, killing a police inspector and an Air Force corporal and making away with their service weapons.

Several community sources who confirmed the killings to PUNCH Online in Jos on Tuesday said the attack occurred at about 5am after four security personnel drawn from two guard locations mounted a snap roadblock along the Ganawuri–Sabon Gida Road.

The sources explained that “while the team was returning to their respective duty posts, two of the personnel failed to return, prompting troops to immediately launch a clearance operation.”

During the search, security forces recovered the bodies of the missing operatives.

“Security forces discovered the bodies of the security operatives, one inspector of the Nigeria Police Force and one lance corporal of the Nigerian Air Force. Their service weapons had been taken by the attackers,” the sources said.

Another community member, who identified herself as Catherine, said the bodies of the slain personnel were evacuated from the scene, while their motorcycle was recovered.

According to her, preliminary findings indicate that the ambush occurred in a volatile corridor.

“Preliminary findings indicated that the ambush occurred near an area previously occupied by Fulani herders, who had fled with their cattle before reinforcements arrived. The attack site was also close to a native settlement,” she said.

She added that, in response, security agencies had scaled up operations in the area.

“Security forces have since commenced cordon-and-search operations around nearby communities, while clearance operations are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and recover the stolen weapons,” she said.

Contacted, the spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached immediately, but security sources at the command headquarters in Jos confirmed that investigations were ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

“I heard of the unfortunate incident, but I also know that investigations into the incident are ongoing,” the source added.