At least 229 officers of the Nigeria Police Force have lost their lives between January 2023 and October 2024, highlighting the grave risks faced by law enforcement in the country. The officers were victims of attacks by bandits, gunmen, Boko Haram terrorists, cultists, armed robbers, and mob violence across various states.
In 2023, 118 officers were killed, and by October 2024, 111 more had died. The trend paints a worrying picture of increasing violence targeting police officers. Daily Trust investigations revealed that officers were attacked in multiple states, including Imo, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, and Delta.
One of the most recent incidents involved ASP Augustine Osupayi of the Lagos Police Command, who was lynched by a mob in Agege in October 2024 while trying to prevent an act of jungle justice.
The data shows alarming numbers. In January 2023 alone, 12 officers were killed, with an additional seven deaths reported in February. By March and April, the death tolls had risen to 11 and 23, respectively.
Between May and July 2023, 31 officers were killed, with 17 dying in May alone. Benue State emerged as one of the deadliest locations, recording 22 officer deaths between August and December 2023.
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This year, violence continues to claim lives. In February 2024, 13 officers were killed by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Hoodlums claimed the lives of 10 officers in March in Ebonyi, Imo, Anambra, and Edo states.
Despite these losses, serving officers remain committed to their duties. Officer Abdul said, “Anybody that dies while serving his fatherland dies as a hero. So, nothing is special. This will not stop us from doing our work.”
Another officer, Ndifrike, called for better support for fallen officers’ families. “They should take care of our family members and children when we are no more. Many of us are still committed to serving Nigeria and Nigerians no matter what happens,” he said.
Security experts have urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to better equip officers for their safety and effectiveness. Abdullahi Garba, a security analyst, described the killings as “demoralising” and said, “I urge the IGP to fortify his men with modern-day equipment because fighting criminals is a serious business.”
Silas Daves, another expert, emphasized the need for teamwork and intelligence gathering. He warned against “bad eggs” within the force sharing information with criminals, saying, “Officers are sometimes ambushed because some of their colleagues share information about their movements.”
Efforts to get comments from the Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, proved unsuccessful. Despite repeated attempts over two weeks, Adejobi has not issued a statement on measures being taken to prevent further officer deaths.
However, a senior officer at the Force Headquarters disclosed that investigations into the killings were ongoing. “We will unravel the circumstances that led to the killings of those officers,” the official said.
The deaths of 229 officers in less than two years underscore the significant challenges facing Nigeria’s police force. While officers remain steadfast in their duties, there is an urgent need for improved equipment, intelligence, and support to ensure their safety and efficiency.