The Nigeria Police Force has officially confirmed the tragic deaths of six officers who lost their lives while investigating the disappearance of three colleagues in Delta State. ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force’s Public Relations Officer, made this announcement in a statement issued on Saturday. Additionally, Adejobi disclosed that six other officers remain missing, while five suspects have been apprehended in connection with the killings.
The statement expressed profound sadness over the loss of the courageous officers, who were ambushed by armed assailants while on a mission to locate and rescue their missing colleagues in the Ohoro Forest, Delta State. The fallen officers were identified as Inspector Abe Olubunmi, Inspector Friday Irorere, Sergeant Kuden Elisha, Sergeant Akpan Aniette, Sergeant Ayere Paul, and Sergeant Ejemito Friday. The missing officers were named as Inspector Onoja Daniel, Inspector Onogho Felix, Inspector Emmanuel Okoroafor, Inspector Joel Hamidu, Sergeant Moses Eduvie, and Sergeant Cyril Okorie.
In recognition of their service and sacrifice, the Nigeria Police Force has pledged to posthumously honor the slain officers at an upcoming awards ceremony scheduled for April 5th, 2024, in Abuja.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has taken decisive actions in response to the tragedy. The bodies of the slain officers have been recovered, and efforts are underway to locate the missing officers. The families of the deceased officers have been contacted, and measures have been initiated to expedite the processing and payment of their entitlements. Furthermore, the Inspector General has mandated the deployment of resources and personnel to apprehend the perpetrators, leading to the arrest of five suspects who are cooperating with the investigation.
The Nigeria Police Force strongly condemned attacks on law enforcement personnel and urged the public to provide any information that could assist in apprehending the remaining perpetrators.
