Gunmen attack checkpoint, kill police officer

The victim was a police corporal.

Gunmen on Friday night attacked a police checkpoint in Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, killing a mobile police officer, Jonathan Simon, and injuring another.

The incident, which occurred few meters away from a mobile police barracks along Akwanga-Lafia road during a stop and search, prevented free flow of traffic for over 20 minutes and left residents scampering for safety due to the sporadic gunshots.

The state commissioner of police, Idris Mohammed, confirmed the shooting of a mobile police officer through a text message.

“It is true,” Mr. Mohammed said but did not give details of the incident.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the gunmen ambushed the check point at about 9 p.m. through a nearby bush.

A witness said about six gunmen came through the bush part behind a government secondary school and started shooting at the police officers who were conducting a stop and search.

A resident of the area, John Paul, said that late Simon, a police corporal, was killed during the shootout while another officer was shot in the leg.

The deceased corporal has a wife and daughter, neighbours said.

Audu Anda, the owner of the house where Mr. Simon lived, said the deceased left home around 5.30 p.m. on Friday only for his family to be told of the incident early Saturday morning.

He said the wife of the deceased, Janet Simon, was told of her husband’s death while in the market on Saturday morning where she fries and sells local cake, masa.

The police spokesperson in Nasarawa, Ismaila Numan, also confirmed the attack.