Tragedy on Plateau Road: Gunmen Ambush Security Team, Kill Police Inspector and Air Force Corporal

● Weapons Carted Away As Troops Launch Manhunt In Riyom LGA

Grief and tension gripped Riyom Local Government Area in the early hours of Tuesday after gunmen laid a deadly ambush on a joint security patrol, killing a Police Inspector and a Lance Corporal of the Nigerian Air Force and fleeing with their service weapons.

The attack, which occurred about 5:00 a.m. on August 4, 2026, on the Ganawuri–Sabon Gida road, has triggered a massive security operation across the troubled council.

—How The Ambush Unfolded—

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that four personnel drawn from two guard locations had mounted a snap roadblock in the area.

According to the sources, while the team was returning to their duty posts after the operation, two of the four did not return.

Worried by the development, troops immediately launched a clearance operation.

It was during the search that the bodies of an Inspector of the Nigeria Police Force and a Lance Corporal of the Nigerian Air Force were discovered.

Their service rifles had been taken by the attackers. The bodies were evacuated, while the team’s motorcycle was recovered at the scene.

—Location Raises Fresh Concerns—

Preliminary findings indicate the ambush occurred near an area previously occupied by Fulani herders, who had reportedly fled with their cattle before reinforcements arrived.

The attack site is also close to a Berom native settlement, an area that has witnessed repeated cycles of violence in recent years.

The brazen killing of two armed operatives has renewed fears over the deteriorating security situation in Riyom and its adjoining communities.

—Manhunt Underway—

In response, security forces have commenced cordon-and-search operations in nearby communities. Clearance operations are also ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and recover the stolen weapons.

Authorities confirmed that investigations are continuing, with more details expected as the operation progresses.

Troops have also arrested 19 suspects in Plateau in connection with follow-up operations after the deadly ambush.

—Rising Attacks On Security Forces—

The killing adds to a growing list of attacks on security personnel across the North-Central, raising fresh questions about the safety of operatives on frontline patrols and the need for improved intelligence and equipment.

Community leaders in Riyom have called for calm, even as residents remain on edge.

The names of the slain Inspector and Corporal have not yet been released as families are being notified.

[Source: Zagazola Makama]