A total of 229 Nigerian police officers have been killed between January 2023 and October 2024, highlighting the rising dangers faced by law enforcement personnel.
Daily Trust investigations reveal that the officers fell victim to bandits, insurgents, cultists, and armed robbers, among other threats.
The data shows 118 officers were killed in 2023, with 111 fatalities recorded in the first 10 months of 2024.
The latest casualty, ASP Augustine Osupayi, was lynched by a mob in Lagos in October while attempting to prevent jungle justice.
Despite the grim statistics, serving officers remain undeterred.
“Every profession has its risks. We are committed to our duty,” one officer told Daily Trust.
Security experts have urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to prioritise modern policing equipment and better intelligence gathering to protect officers.
Efforts to get an official response from the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, proved futile.
