Gunmen have killed a police inspector, identified as Otor Ejiga, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, in an attack that has raised fresh security concerns.
The officer, attached to the Mega Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp along Gbajimba Road, was reportedly shot dead on Thursday evening.
Sources disclosed that the incident occurred while the inspector was operating an unauthorized checkpoint near the camp.
“He was on duty around the camp area when the gunmen attacked him at a checkpoint that was not officially approved,” a source said.
The assailants were said to have fled the scene immediately after the attack, making away with the officer’s service rifle.
“They escaped with his rifle after shooting him. It all happened very quickly before any reinforcement could arrive,” another source added.
A patrol team later responded to the distress call and recovered the officer’s body, which was deposited at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
“The patrol team moved in after the incident, recovered his remains, and took him to the hospital,” a security source confirmed.
Meanwhile, security agencies have launched a manhunt to track down the perpetrators and recover the stolen firearm.
“We have commenced a manhunt for the attackers, and efforts are ongoing to recover the stolen weapon,” a security official said.
It was also gathered that a full-scale investigation has been initiated into the circumstances surrounding the incident, while the officer in charge has been queried over alleged supervisory lapses.
“The authorities are not taking this lightly. The officer in charge has been queried as part of ongoing internal investigations,” the source added.
