A quick and brave response by the Nasarawa State Police on Tuesday night prevented what could have been a deadly ambush along the troubled Kadarko–Makurdi Road near the Benue border.

Around 10:55 p.m., officers on routine stop-and-search duty came under heavy gunfire from suspected armed men believed to have emerged from the Benue forest area. The attackers tried to overwhelm the police team stationed in Keana Local Government Area with a sudden burst of gunfire.

Speaking on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, said the officers showed remarkable courage and tactical skill by fighting back in a fierce gun battle that forced the attackers to retreat into the forest. Some of the suspects are believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds.

Sadly, the exchange was not without casualties. Inspector Sunday Apochie sustained gunshot injuries and had to be rescued by a rapid reinforcement team from Kadarko Division. His service AK-47 rifle, which went missing during the chaos, was later recovered. The injured officer was first treated at Kadarko Primary Health Centre before being transferred to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Lafia, where he is now responding well to treatment.

Tragically, a civilian living near the ambush site was hit by a stray bullet, allegedly fired by the fleeing gunmen, and died from the injury.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, has since visited the injured officer in the hospital and extended his condolences to the family of the deceased civilian. He assured the public that a full-scale manhunt is already underway to track down the attackers.

“All necessary measures are being put in place to ensure these criminals face justice and to prevent such attacks in the future,” CP Mohammed said.

He also called on residents to stay alert and promptly report any suspicious activity, as security patrols and intelligence operations are being intensified along the border corridor to safeguard lives and property.