Police operatives in Nasarawa State on Tuesday night bravely thwarted an ambush by armed men along the troubled Kadarko–Makurdi Road, close to the Benue border.

The attack happened around 10:55 p.m. when officers on routine duty in Keana Local Government Area suddenly came under heavy gunfire from gunmen suspected to have emerged from the forested Benue axis.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, the officers quickly took positions and engaged the attackers in a fierce shootout, forcing them to retreat into the bush. Some of the suspects are believed to have fled with gunshot wounds.

“In the heat of the gun battle, Inspector Sunday Apochie was shot and injured. His AK-47 rifle, which was briefly lost during the chaos, was later recovered at the scene,” Nansel said.

The injured officer was first treated at Kadarko Primary Health Care Centre before being moved to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Lafia, where he is said to be responding well to treatment.

Tragically, a civilian living near the ambush site was hit by a stray bullet allegedly fired by the fleeing gunmen and lost his life.

The Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, has visited the injured officer in the hospital and also extended condolences to the family of the deceased civilian. He promised that the police will do everything possible to track down the criminals behind the attack.

“We’ve launched a full-scale manhunt to ensure those responsible face justice. Extra patrols and intelligence efforts have also been stepped up along the border areas to prevent further attacks,” the CP assured.

He called on residents to stay alert and promptly report any suspicious movements in their communities.