The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the killing of Baba Ibrahim, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, by gunmen in Katsina-Ala, Benue State on Wednesday.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Austin Ezeani, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Makurdi on Thursday that the police officer was leading a special police task force on cattle rustling in the state.
Ezeani said the task force was inaugurated by the Inspector General of Police to curtail rising cases of cattle rustling in the state.
Ezeani explained that the deceased was attacked at the Katsina-Ala cattle market by unknown gunmen who came in a Toyota vehicle with the inscription: “NAND.”
He disclosed that the assailants shot six other members of the team who are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Katsina-Ala.
He said the command had commenced a systematic raid on criminal hideouts and gun-running syndicates to flush out criminal elements in the state.
The police spokesman vowed that the command would ensure that the culprits were arrested and brought to book.
Ezeani also said the command arrested three police officers, including security guards, who were on duty at Radio Benue when hoodlums broke in and carted away valuables.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that hoodlums had in the early hours of Tuesday invaded the Benue State-owned medium and stole money and other valuables.
The PPRO also said the two officers and security guards who were on duty at the Independent National Electoral Commission office in Katsina-Ala on the night the edifice was burnt had been arrested and detained.
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