Between January 2023 and October 2024, at least 229 personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) lost their lives in the line of duty.
The victims were killed by a range of criminal groups, including bandits, gunmen, Boko Haram terrorists, cultists, and armed robbers, in various states across the country.
In 2023 alone, 118 police officers were killed, with another 111 fatalities recorded in the first ten months of 2024.
The figures also include several police officers who were killed by violent mobs in different regions.
One recent case involved Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Augustine Osupayi, a member of the Lagos Police Command, who was lynched by a mob in Agege in October 2024 while trying to prevent the execution of jungle justice.
In the early part of 2023, at least 12 police officers were killed between January 2 and 30.
In February, seven more officers were killed in states including Imo, Nasarawa, Edo, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Niger, and Delta.
The violence continued throughout the year, with the police losing 11 officers in March and 23 in April 2023.
On April 30, bandits killed six officers in Kebbi State, while gunmen took the lives of five police officers in Imo State on April 21, 2023.
From May to July 2023, a total of 31 police officers were killed, with 17 of them falling in May.
Additionally, 22 officers were killed in Benue State between August and December 2023.
This year, the killings persisted. At the beginning of 2024, 15 officers were killed while on duty, including seven in Delta State.
In February, 13 officers were killed by members of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In March, hoodlums killed 10 officers in Ebonyi, Imo, Anambra, and Edo states.
In an interview with Daily Trust, some police officers expressed sympathy for the families of fallen colleagues, yet stressed their determination to continue serving despite the risks.
One officer remarked, “It’s unfortunate that some of our colleagues have lost their lives to criminals, but we are all aware of the risks involved in our line of duty. No profession is without its challenges. Even if you don’t die in the line of duty, you will eventually pass on.”
Another officer named Abdul added, “Anyone who dies while serving their country dies a hero. This will not stop us from carrying out our responsibilities.”
Ndifrike, another officer, acknowledged the sorrow of losing colleagues but said the killings would not deter their commitment.
He called for better care for the families of deceased officers. “We need to ensure our families are well cared for when we are no longer here,” he said.
Security expert Abdullahi Garba urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to equip officers with modern policing tools to better protect themselves while fighting crime.
He described the killings of officers as deeply demoralizing and emphasized the need for better equipment to combat armed criminals.
Silas Daves, a security sector reform expert, advised officers to work as a team during operations to avoid ambushes.
He alleged that some police officers might be betraying their colleagues by sharing information with criminals.
Daves also stressed the importance of intelligence gathering to prevent further attacks on officers.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to comment publicly on these ongoing killings. Despite repeated requests for comment, Force spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi did not respond to inquiries, either via calls or text messages.
However, a senior police officer revealed that an investigation has been launched by the Inspector-General of Police into the killings, with efforts underway to determine the circumstances behind the deaths.
