The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to its constitutional duty of protecting lives and property, declaring that the force will not be intimidated by attacks from criminal elements.
Disu spoke on Monday in Abuja during a memorial parade held in honour of 10 officers of the Nigeria Police Special Intervention Squad (SIS) who were killed by suspected bandits in Kebbi State.
The officers were killed on August 10 during a fierce encounter with suspected bandits, according to the Inspector-General.
Disu said the personnel had intercepted a heavily armed group of suspected bandits moving from Kebbi towards Zamfara when the confrontation occurred.
He said the officers fought courageously in defence of the people and the nation but 10 personnel were killed, while two others were injured. Two civilians also lost their lives in the incident.
The Inspector-General said the sacrifice of the officers was not in vain, noting that at least 17 suspected bandits were neutralised and four motorcycles belonging to the attackers were destroyed.
He added that additional bodies believed to be those of the bandits had been recovered from various parts of the forest.
According to Disu, the fallen officers died while carrying out the oath they took to serve, protect and defend lives and property.
“Today we gather with heavy hearts, but with immense pride, to honour 10 gallant officers of the NPF,” he said.
“Let me assure Nigerians that the NPF remains resolute in its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.”
Disu said the police would continue to collaborate with the armed forces, sister security agencies, state governments and local communities to tackle banditry, terrorism and other forms of criminality threatening the country.
“We shall not be intimidated, relent and not allow the sacrifice of our fallen heroes to be in vain,” he said.
The Inspector-General acknowledged the pain suffered by the families of the deceased officers, noting that behind every fallen police officer was a family that had lost a husband, father, son, brother or loved one.
He extended the condolences of the Nigeria Police Force to the bereaved families, assuring them that the force would continue to support them and ensure that the sacrifices of their loved ones were not forgotten.
Disu also urged Nigerians to remember the 10 fallen officers and the thousands of other police personnel who continue to put their lives at risk in the service of the country.
He said their sacrifices underscored the enormous cost of maintaining national security, often borne by men and women who willingly put their lives on the line to protect others.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the SIS, Abayomi Shogunle, commended the fallen officers for their bravery and commitment to duty.
Shogunle said the officers stood their ground and refused to abandon their posts despite the difficult circumstances.
He disclosed that as recently as the previous week, members of the community had alerted the police after spotting vultures around an area of the forest, where 25 bodies believed to belong to terrorists were subsequently recovered.
According to him, battle damage assessments conducted after the encounter indicated that hundreds of terrorists may have been killed, stressing that the officers’ decision to remain at their posts contributed significantly to the outcome.
