Three police officers were on Wednesday gunned down when armed men attacked a checkpoint in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The incident happened in the border town linking Kogi and Kwara states.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants stormed the checkpoint in the early hours, engaging the policemen in a fierce gun duel.
“The attackers came for their guns, which they carted away. Three officers died in the exchange of fire,” a source said.
Videos circulating online showed vehicles allegedly used by the gunmen as they escaped from the scene.
The Kogi incident came just hours after bandits struck Bokungi in Tsaragi community, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing one person and rustling hundreds of cows.
The midnight raid targeted Fulani settlements owned by Alhaji Garuba and Alhaji Mumini.
Witnesses said the invaders stormed the community around 12 a.m., shooting sporadically to scare residents before seizing nearly 1,000 cattle.
During the raid, Mumini’s first son, Muhammadu, who got married barely a month ago, was killed.
A source explained that when the attackers could not force their way into Garuba’s house, they turned to his livestock.
“They came through Bokungi, firing into the air. Everyone ran for safety. They moved nearly 700 cows and passed through Fengewa before soldiers and vigilantes attempted to intercept them,” the source said.
Residents, however, expressed disappointment at what they described as the failure of security operatives to make “real effort” to stop the attackers.