The Taraba State Police Command has confirmed the killing of three police officers and a local vigilante leader following a violent attack by suspected bandits in Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State.
According to a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, Victor Mshelizah, the incident was triggered by a distress call from a resident, who reported that armed men had attacked Tse Kwe Village in Tordamisa Akate Ward.
Police authorities said a joint team led by the Divisional Police Officer of Donga, alongside special force operatives, was immediately deployed to the area in response to the alert.
“On arrival, the suspected bandits opened fire on the police team, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire,” the statement said, adding that officers successfully repelled the attackers.
However, the operation turned tragic as three officers—Corporal Raphael Danjuma, Police Constable Ebenezer Daniel, and Police Constable Samuel Bawa—lost their lives in the line of duty. Bawa had initially been declared missing before his body was later discovered in a nearby bush during a search operation.
The police also confirmed the recovery of the body of Nutsa Tyav, a 60-year-old chairman of the local vigilante group in Tordamisa Village, who was killed during the attack.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Betty Enepen Isokpan Otimenyin, expressed shock over the loss of the officers and the vigilante leader, describing them as heroes who paid the ultimate price in service to the nation.
The Command said security operations have since been intensified in the affected communities, with ongoing efforts to track down and apprehend those responsible for the напад.
Urging residents to remain calm and support security agencies by providing credible information to aid investigations, Police authorities said further updates will be provided as the situation develops.