No fewer than 53 security operatives were killed across the country in the last two weeks, according to a data compiled by Daily Trust from media reports.
They included soldiers, police officers, personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officers, vigilantes, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and State community watch groups.
The figure did not include unreported cases.
While many of the victims were killed by gunmen while responding to attacks on communities, others were gunned down at security checkpoints and outposts.
An investigation by Daily Trust last December had shown that no fewer than 229 personnel of the Nigeria Police Force were killed between January 2023 and October 2024. The officers were reportedly killed by bandits, hoodlums, gunmen, Boko Haram terrorists, cultists and armed robbers across the country.
The latest incidents occurred in Benue and Kogi states where seven police officers and other operatives were killed in separate gunmen attacks last Friday and yesterday, respectively.
In addition to the fatalities, several security personnel were also abducted in the Benue incident.
Few days ago, the Department of State Services (DSS) arraigned nine persons over their alleged involvement in the recent killings in Benue and Plateau states.
The suspects were brought before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The DSS also charged a suspected gunrunner with unlawful possession of seven M16 rifles.
Two of the accused, Haruna Adamu and Muhammad Abdullahi, both from Awe Local
Government Area of Nasarawa State, are facing a four-count charge relating to the killings in Abinsi and Yelewata, Guma LGA of Benue.
They were alleged to have committed the offence alongside others still at large on June 13.
Two others, Terkende Ashuwa and Amos Alede, both from Guma LGA of Benue, were charged on three counts for alleged reprisal attacks against initial suspects, including the destruction of property which resulted in the loss of 12 cattle in Ukpam village.
Credit: Global Upfront.
