Two policemen killed by unknown gunmen in Madalla, Niger State

On 12 May, unknown gunmen killed two policemen attached to the residence of the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Suleja Local Government Council, Alhaji Mohammed Umar Maddalla, in Madalla town, Niger State. The town is about 40 km from the federal capital, Abuja

The victims were identified as Sergeant Yakubu Musa and Constable Akogu. 　

According to local sources, the gunmen arrived at the residence of the chairman on a motorcycle at about 9 pm and instantly opened fire at the unsuspecting policemen. Once they confirmed the policemen dead, they grabbed the service riffle of the slain sergeant and sped off, amidst the pandemonium that had ensued. The Caretaker Chairman, Alhaji Madalla was not at home at the time the incident happened and the gunmen took nothing from his residence.

Confirming the incident which he aptly described as “sad and barbaric”,  the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Richard Oguche, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the attackers might have overpowered the policemen because only the sergeant was permitted to be armed. He also gave the number of the service riffle that was taken away as FNC 98054624, adding that the weapon contained 20 rounds of ammunition.

He said no arrest had yet been made, but that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Michael Zuokumor, had mobilized the anti-robbery squad to raid hoodlums’ hideouts in the entire area.