The Taraba State Police Command has confirmed the killing of three police officers and a local vigilante leader following a bandit attack in the state.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Jalingo, the state capital, the command said the incident occurred after a distress call from a resident of Tordamisa Akate Ward, who reported that armed men suspected to be bandits had invaded the community.
Police authorities explained that a response team, led by the Divisional Police Officer of Donga and supported by Special Force operatives, was swiftly deployed to the area to restore order and protect residents.
According to the command, the situation escalated into a deadly confrontation in Tse Kwe Village, where three officers and a local vigilante leader lost their lives during a gun battle with the attackers.
According to the statement, “Upon arrival, the officers came under heavy gunfire from the attackers, leading to a fierce exchange. In the course of the operation, the police operatives engaged the bandits and successfully repelled the attack.”
The command identified the fallen officers as Corporal Raphael Danjuma, Police Constable Ebenezer Daniel, and Police Constable Samuel Bawa.
“Bawa had initially been declared missing before his body was later recovered in a nearby bush during a search operation,” the police confirmed.
The attack also claimed the life of Nutsa Tyav, the 60-year-old chairman of the local vigilante group in Tordamisa Village, whose body was later discovered.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Betty Enepen Isokpan Otimenyin, expressed shock over the incident, describing the deceased officers and the vigilante leader as heroes who paid the ultimate price in service to their communities and the nation.
While condoling with the affected families, she assured them that the sacrifices of the victims would not be in vain.
She added that security has since been reinforced in the area, with ongoing operations aimed at tracking down and apprehending those responsible for the attack.
The police also urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could aid investigations.
