Armed men ambushed and attacked two police officers, Inspector Dunna Jatau and Inspector Bala Mohammed, while they were on official duty in Abia State on Sunday night.
The officers, attached to the Special Protection Unit Base 4 in Makurdi, were providing security for a member of the House of Representatives, Ginger Onwusibe, who represents the Nsiala-Ngwa North/South constituency.
The Abia State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Monday. She detailed the sequence of events leading to the attack, revealing that the officers were targeted shortly after dropping off the lawmaker in Umuahia.
“On November 17, 2024, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Inspectors Dunna Jatau and Bala Mohammed were ambushed by unidentified armed assailants. The officers were returning from a security detail, having just dropped off Honourable Ginger Onwusibe. They were traveling in a police-issued Toyota Hilux vehicle when the attack occurred,” Chinaka stated.
The attack took place near the Umuahia South Local Government Area Secretariat in Ubakala. According to the police, the assailants, dressed in black and operating a Toyota Corolla with tinted windows, intercepted the officers’ vehicle and launched an unprovoked attack.
“The gunmen blocked the road and opened fire on the officers,” the statement continued. “Sadly, Inspector Bala Mohammed sustained multiple gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Inspector Dunna Jatau, along with the driver of the vehicle, managed to escape and is currently safe.”
In response to the attack, the Abia State Police Command has initiated a full-scale investigation and intensified efforts to apprehend the perpetrators. Tactical units and special operations teams have been deployed to comb the area and track the fleeing suspects.
“The Abia State Police Command remains resolute in its commitment to justice. A comprehensive search operation is underway, and we assure the public that the perpetrators of this heinous crime will be brought to justice,” Chinaka affirmed.
