VIOLENCE AGAINST SECURITY PERSONNEL The Authorities must do more by Providing Adequately for the Police

Policing in Nigeria has become a perilous undertaking, with law enforcement officers frequently risking their lives to ensure public safety. Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu recently revealed a stark reality: 140 police operatives lost their lives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during 2024 alone. "If you calculate the number of police officers who die annually across Nigeria while protecting citizens, you will understand the sacrifices they make to keep the country safe," Disu stated, emphasizing the immense toll on personnel.

As the first responders to high-conflict situations, police officers are prime targets for organized crime, escalating banditry, armed robberies, and a host of other criminal activities. The fatality rate within the FCT Police Command is particularly unnerving, raising serious questions about the safety of officers in other states, especially in regions like Borno, the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency.

These grim statistics are not new. For decades, hundreds of security operatives have perished in the line of duty. The rising wave of attacks on police officers and their facilities mirrors the broader insecurity plaguing the nation. A 2013 incident saw the sensational murder of 74 police officers and 10 Department of State Services (DSS) officers by the Ombatse Cult in Nasarawa State, with no public information on subsequent prosecutions, hinting at systemic flaws.

A recent security report, "The Kill Zone," documented at least 1,007 combatant and security fatalities in ambushes between 2019 and 2025. This includes 454 soldiers and 329 other security personnel. The escalating casualty figures and the inability of security agencies to protect themselves raise profound concerns about the safety of ordinary citizens, who are left vulnerable if even trained and armed law enforcement officers become easy targets for criminals.

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If you calculate the number of police officers who die annually across Nigeria while protecting citizens, you will understand the sacrifices they make to keep the country safe.