3 police officers, 5 soldiers killed in Kogi, Zamfara
Gunmen have killed three police officers and five soldiers in Kogi and Zamfara states. In Kogi, the police officers were killed on duty at a checkpoint in Egbe community, Yagba West Local Government Area. The incident was said to have occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday when heavily armed men stormed the police checkpoint along […]
Gunmen have killed three police officers and five soldiers in Kogi and Zamfara states.
In Kogi, the police officers were killed on duty at a checkpoint in Egbe community, Yagba West Local Government Area.
The incident was said to have occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday when heavily armed men stormed the police checkpoint along the Egbe-Okoloke Road and opened fire on the unsuspecting officers.
Locals said two of the policemen died instantly, while the third succumbed to injuries on the way to the hospital.
“We woke up early Wednesday morning to the sound of heavy gunfire coming from the Okoloke-Egbe road axis. We all stayed indoors, fearing stray bullets. The exchange lasted for more than 30 minutes.
“Later, a neighbour told me that gunmen attacked a police checkpoint on the Egbe-Okoloke road, killing two officers on the spot and another who was confirmed dead while being rushed to the hospital,” said Owolabi Yinka, a resident of Egbe.
Some residents alleged that a red Toyota car abandoned near the scene of the incident was the vehicle used by the armed men to carry out the deadly operation.
Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP William Aya, stated that the attack occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at the border area between Kogi and Kwara states.
He added that the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, had deployed a tactical police team to comb the area and apprehend the assailants.
“I can confirm to you that three of our officers on duty were killed today (Wednesday) in Egbe, a border community with Kwara State.
“The Commissioner of Police has deployed a tactical squad to the area, and we are currently on the trail of the gunmen. They will all be arrested,” Aya said.
Meanwhile, by around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, tension had gripped Egbe town following reports of a possible renewed attack by the gunmen.
Some residents said they heard gunfire near a military post in the area, though it was not immediately clear whether it came from security forces or attackers.
“We are indoors, while many people are fleeing the town. The security situation appears fragile and unpredictable,” said Ayomide, another resident of Egbe.
Egbe and the surrounding communities have witnessed several violent attacks in recent years.
In December 2021, gunmen invaded Odo Ere and Egbe in Yagba West LGA, attacking three commercial banks, a divisional police station, and killing three persons while injuring several others. Those killed included two security personnel and a woman.
In May 2022, a newly married farmer, Biodun Fakoro, was found gruesomely murdered on his farm in Egbe. His mutilated body, tied to a tree, was discovered by security operatives and local vigilantes after he had earlier been declared missing.
In January 2025, gunmen ambushed an ambulance along the Egbe-Ogbe-Ponyan road around 5 p.m. The ambulance director, Segun Adekoya, who was returning from a funeral, was attacked after fixing a punctured tyre. About 30 assailants laid siege; Adekoya, who had a mobility disability, was killed while others managed to escape.
Again, in May 2025, three indigenes of Okoloke in Yagba West LGA were ambushed and killed by gunmen just days after the abduction of Oba Ogunyanda Ilufemiloye, the Obalohun of Okoloke. Two of the victims, members of a local hunters’ group, were reportedly on their way to Egbe to make purchases when they were attacked.
5 soldiers, 10 villagers killed in Zamfara
In another incident, bandits on Monday ambushed a convoy along the Lilo-Gulubba Road in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing five soldiers and ten villagers who were traders on their way to the Gusau market.
Eyewitnesses said the attack occurred as troops escorted traders from Lilo village in Mada District to the state capital.
The bandits, who had reportedly laid in wait, suddenly opened fire on the convoy, sparking a fierce gun battle with the escorting troops.
“The bandits emerged from hiding and attacked our convoy. The soldiers fought back bravely in a heavy exchange of gunfire. Sadly, five soldiers and ten villagers were killed,” said a survivor who narrowly escaped.
The eyewitness, who pretended to be dead to avoid being targeted, added that the attackers eventually retreated after suffering heavy casualties.
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, representatives of the affected communities described the ambush as a devastating blow to the area.
Mohammed Mohammed, spokesperson for the communities, confirmed the casualties and lamented the poor state of infrastructure in the state, particularly the roads, which he said made residents more vulnerable to attacks.
He appealed to local, state, and federal governments to urgently intervene by improving infrastructure, providing basic amenities, and strengthening security presence in the area.
While the identities of the slain soldiers have not yet been released, the community paid tribute to them, describing them as “gallant heroes” who gave their lives in defence of innocent civilians.
When contacted, the Army’s Media Information Officer, Captain David Adewusi, said he was not yet aware of the incident but promised to provide more details after receiving a full briefing.