Between January 2023 and October 2024, at least 229 members of the Nigeria Police Force lost their lives, according to investigations by Daily Trust. These officers were killed by various groups, including bandits, hoodlums, gunmen, Boko Haram terrorists, cultists, and armed robbers throughout the nation.
In 2023 alone, 118 police officers of different ranks were killed, with an additional 111 fatalities reported within the first ten months of 2024. There were also instances of police officers being killed by mobs in different regions.
A recent case involved ASP Augustine Osupayi from the Lagos Police Command, who was lynched by a mob in Agege in October while his team attempted to prevent an act of jungle justice.
The trend of violence against police officers has been alarming, with at least 12 officers killed between January 2 and 30, 2023, followed by seven more in February across states such as Imo, Nasarawa, Edo, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Niger, and Delta. This pattern persisted in March and April 2023, resulting in the deaths of 11 and 23 officers, respectively. Notably, bandits killed six police officers in Kebbi on April 30, 2023, while gunmen took the lives of five officers in Imo on April 21, 2023.
From May to July 2023, 31 police personnel were killed, with 17 fatalities occurring in May alone. In Benue State, 22 police officers were killed between August and December 2023. At the start of this year, 15 officers were killed at their duty posts, with seven of them in Delta State. In February, 13 officers were killed by members of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and in March, hoodlums killed a total of 10 officers in Ebonyi, Imo, Anambra, and Edo states.
Some police officers interviewed expressed sympathy for the families of their fallen colleagues but stated that they remain undeterred by these tragic events. They emphasized their commitment to serving the nation despite the inherent dangers of their profession. One officer remarked, “It is unfortunate that some of our colleagues were killed by criminals, but we are aware of the challenges of our job. Every profession has its hazards; ours is just more pronounced.”
Another officer, Abdul, stated, “Anyone who dies while serving their country is a hero. This will not deter us from our duties.” Officer Ndifrike echoed this sentiment, urging the police force to ensure that the sacrifices of slain officers are not in vain and to take care of their families.
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Security expert Abdullahi Garba called on Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to equip officers with modern tools necessary for their protection in the fight against crime, describing the killings as “demoralizing.” Silas Daves, another security reform expert, advised police officers to collaborate during operations, alleging that some officers may leak information to criminals, leading to ambushes.
Attempts to reach the police force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, for comments on measures to prevent further officer fatalities were unsuccessful. After two weeks of silence, he promised to provide an official response but has yet to do so. However, a senior police officer indicated that an investigation ordered by the Inspector-General into the recent killings is underway, stating, “We will uncover the circumstances surrounding the deaths of those officers.”
