Nigeria’s internal security situation has deteriorated sharply over the past year, as coordinated attacks on police stations, checkpoints, patrol teams and tactical units continue to claim the lives of officers nationwide. From insurgency-ravaged communities in the North-East to flashpoints in the North-Central, South-East and South-West, the Nigeria Police Force has increasingly come under sustained assault by insurgents, bandits, armed gangs and hostile mobs.
Media reports indicate that no fewer than 45 police officers lost their lives within the period under review, following violent incidents recorded in multiple states. The attacks have not only exposed deep vulnerabilities within police formations but have also raised serious questions about operational readiness, manpower capacity and the state’s ability to protect those tasked with enforcing the law.
Widening Threat Landscape
Security analysts note that the nature and spread of these attacks reflect the growing confidence of criminal groups operating across Nigeria. While Boko Haram insurgents remain active in parts of the North-East, banditry, terrorism, mob violence and targeted assaults have taken firm root in other regions, often overwhelming local security units.
Reports show that police facilities and personnel were attacked in Borno, Kwara, Enugu, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Kogi, Taraba, Benue, Edo, Niger, Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo, Ondo, among other states.
Insurgents and Bandits Target Police Facilities
On January 8, 2025, Boko Haram fighters stormed the Divisional Police Station in Gajiram, Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno State, killing two officers. The attack was part of a renewed campaign by the insurgent group against security institutions in the region.
In Zamfara State, armed bandits launched a deadly assault in July 2025 on a Police Mobile Force base and a joint security post in Gwarin Ganuwa village, Tsafe LGA, where police officers and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) operatives were deployed under Operation Restore Peace. Despite resistance, a police inspector, Abubakar Mohammed, alongside several CJTF members, was killed.
Similarly, bandits attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters in Babanla, Ifelodun LGA of Kwara State, on August 8, 2025, killing five people, including Inspector Adejumo Wasiu. In October 2025, gunmen also raided the Zonkwa Divisional Police Headquarters in Kaduna State, killing two officers, injuring others and freeing detainees before being repelled after a prolonged gun battle.
Mob Violence and Targeted Killings
Beyond armed groups, mob actions have also contributed significantly to police casualties. In Ondo State, angry youths set the Ifon Police Station ablaze in February 2025. Earlier, on December 31, 2024, bandits had torched the Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo LGA. Although no lives were lost in both incidents, they underscored growing hostility toward law enforcement.
In Kano State, tensions escalated on May 25, 2025, when the Divisional Police Officer of Rano Division was lynched by a mob following the death of a suspect in custody. Another mob attack in September saw the vandalisation of the Garko Divisional Police Headquarters, where a patrol vehicle was set on fire and officers sustained injuries.
Deadly Ambushes at Checkpoints and Patrol Routes
Several officers were killed while on routine patrols or manning checkpoints. In Kebbi State, suspected Lakurawa terrorists killed two officers on September 10, 2025, after ambushing a patrol team at Natsini Corner, Augie LGA. On the same day, three officers were murdered at a checkpoint along the Egbe–Okoloke Road in Kogi State, while two others were killed at another checkpoint in Isanlu on September 21.
Additional incidents were recorded in Taraba, Zamfara, Edo, Oyo, and other states, where officers were gunned down in coordinated attacks targeting security posts.
Tactical Teams and Infrastructure Under Fire
Police tactical units also suffered heavy losses. On September 19, 2025, an ambush on a tactical team at Agu Centre, spanning Katsina-Ala and Ukum LGAs of Benue State, left three officers dead and seven others missing. In Bauchi State, five officers were killed during an ambush at Sabon Sara village, Darazo LGA, on November 22 while conducting visibility patrols to prevent farmer-herder clashes.
Police infrastructure has repeatedly been destroyed. In Enugu State, gunmen attacked the Awgu Divisional Police Headquarters on March 24, 2025, killing Constable Akpa Emmanuel. In Niger State, terrorists used explosives to burn down a police station in Agwara on February 1, 2026, abducting at least six people. Another border patrol outpost in Borgu LGA was similarly attacked in January 2026.
Police Silence, Official Warnings
Attempts to obtain official comments from the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful. However, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had earlier condemned attacks on officers, describing them as unacceptable and urging citizens to use lawful channels to report grievances against police conduct.
State Commands Respond
The Kogi State Police Command said it had intensified joint operations involving other security agencies, vigilantes and hunters, deploying intelligence-led bush-combing exercises to dismantle criminal networks. In Kaduna State, police authorities said proactive measures introduced after earlier attacks have significantly reduced threats against personnel.
Experts Cite Structural Failures
Security experts attribute the recurring attacks to deep-seated weaknesses in Nigeria’s policing framework. Retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Adisa Bolanta, identified acute manpower shortages, inadequate funding, poor logistics and weak political will as major factors.
He stressed the need for mass recruitment, improved mobility, modern communication systems and a revitalised Police Mobile Force. Intelligence analyst Abdullahi Garba echoed similar concerns, calling for technology-driven policing and better protection for officers on duty.
‘Police Officers Now Soft Targets’
Human rights advocate and Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Okechukwu Nwanguma, warned that police officers have increasingly become “soft targets,” a trend that threatens public safety.
According to him, many officers are deployed without sufficient intelligence, equipment, welfare support or backup. He emphasised that protecting police personnel through intelligence-led operations, improved welfare and stronger community trust is essential to breaking the cycle of insecurity.
“Failure to protect those tasked with protecting society only deepens fear, lawlessness and human rights abuses,” Nwanguma said, adding that the state has a duty of care to both civilians and law enforcement officers.
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