A rapid and brave response of the Nasarawa State Police command officers on Tuesday night, July 9, 2025, avoided what could have been a deadly ambush on security forces along the volatile Road Kadarko -Makurdi near the border of Benue.
Police agents, parked for their routine service around 10:55 pm, were seen under the strong shots of alleged armed assailants that are believed to arise from Benue's wooded axis.
According to the Public Relations officer of the State Police of Nasarawa, SP. Ramhan Nansel, the attackers launched a sudden and cowardly ambush, trying to overwhelm the officers parked in the area of ​​the local government of Keana.
But the officers, who show tactical precision and courage, defended themselves in what he described as a “fierce duel”, forcing the attackers to retire to the dense forest.
Nansel added that some of the suspects escaped with gunshot wounds.
“Showing gallantry and tactical superiority, police officers hired the assailants in a fierce duel of arms, successfully repel the attack and forcing criminals to flee to the forest with alleged bullet wounds,” Nansel said.
The police chief declared even more: “Unfortunately, in the heat of the exchange, Inspector Sunday Apochie suffered injuries due to shooting and had to be rescued by a rapid reinforcement team of the Kadarko division.
“His AK-47 service rifle, briefly lost during chaos, recovered from the scene. The injured officer first stabilized at the Kadarko Primary Health Care Center before being transferred to the Federal University Hospital in the Federal University in Lafia, where he is currently responding well to treatment.”
Nansel added that tragically, the incident also claimed the life of a civilian who lived near the site of the ambush. It was beaten by a lost bullet allegedly fired by the running gunmen.
The spokesman declared that the police commissioner, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, who visited the wounded officer in the hospital, extended his condolences to the afflicted family and promised justice.
He assured residents that a large -scale human hunt is underway to locate the suspects.
“All necessary measures are being implemented to take the perpetrators of this atrocious act to justice and the future of future occurrence,” said the PC.
He also urged residents in the area to remain vigilant and inform any suspicious movement, since the command increases patrol and intelligence operations along the border corridor.