Bandits kill police officer, vigilante member near Abuja days after issuing warning letter

A police officer and a vigilante member were shot dead by suspected bandits in Zhibi, a community bordering Dei-Dei in Abuja but situated within Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State.

The attack occurred just days after the assailants reportedly issued a chilling warning letter to one of the victims.

The victims have been identified as Inspector Joshua John, attached to the 45 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Dei-Dei, and Joshua Garba, a local vigilante member.

According to residents, the officer had recently moved into the community with his family after building a house, having previously resided at the nearby Police Mobile (Mopol) Barracks.

“He used to volunteer himself for night patrol whenever he was around, leading the vigilante members of the community,” a resident shared.

Locals said the officer’s commitment to community safety may have made him a target. His house had earlier come under attack, which he successfully repelled. Two days later, a letter was left behind, warning him about his continued involvement in night patrols and threatening further violence.

“His house was once attacked and he repelled the attackers, only for them to drop a letter for him two days later, warning him about his participation in the night patrol, with a threat of returning back at any time,” the resident recounted.

Security sources confirmed that the assailants arrived in the area last week around 9 p.m., using a Sienna vehicle which they parked in a secluded spot. Members of the vigilante group noticed the suspicious vehicle and alerted Inspector John.

“On getting to the scene, he asked the people in the vehicle to come out and identify themselves. One of them, who seemed to be their driver, came out immediately and shot the police officer,” a source said.

John died on the spot, while Garba, who sustained gunshot wounds during the incident, passed away the next day at Kubwa General Hospital in Abuja.

The police inspector, originally from Borno State, was buried at Gudu Cemetery in Abuja. The vigilante member is scheduled to be buried in his home state of Nasarawa.

Meanwhile, security operatives tracked and arrested the suspected killers near Gwantu community, along the Keffi–Jos highway in Kaduna State. Among the items recovered were the slain officer’s service weapon and a large sum of money believed to be ransom.

(DAILY TRUST)