By Callistus Agwaza in Jalingo
An assistant inspector of police (ASP), Tapu Godfrey, has been killed in an ambush by the local vigilante group in Sandirde community, Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba state.
The police officer was said to be leading a routine patrol team in the area when they were attacked.
The Taraba state police commissioner, David Iloyanomon, disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement in Jalingo.
Iloyanomon, described the attack and the killing of the police officer as “despicable and unwarranted”.
The statement reads, “The Taraba state Police command wishes to inform the public of the unwarranted attack and gruesome murder of a police officer by the local vigilante group in Sandirde village led by one Ali Dissol , Gassol LGA.
“On 4/5/2024, a team of special strike force operatives attached to Government house Taraba state led by SP Jamu Emmanuel, while on routine patrol at Sandirde village Gassol LGA were ambushed by a group of local vigilante.
“The vigilante group shot sporadically, as a result one AP/NO 191462 ASP Tapu Godfrey was shot on his lap.
“A team of detective from Gassol division, led by the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), rushed to the scene and took the victim to the General Hospital, Sandirde, for treatment where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.”
The statement said further that,
“On 5/5/2024, the commissioner of police, accompanied by the deputy commissioner of police in-charge of operations and personnel of 40PMF Jalingo, paid a fact finding /security assessment visit to Gassol. “The team met with stakeholders which include the emir of Gassol and the district head of Sandirde town.
“The outcome of the meeting was on how to get the attackers arrested and also to develop roadmap to endearing security in the LGA.
Iloyanomon said the command has deployed intelligence and operational resources to sustain manhunt of the fleeing attackers and bring them to justice.
The police commissioner expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased officer.
He assured that no stone would be left unturned in combating crime and criminality in the state.
