By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - At least 128 police personnel have lost their lives within three months in clashes with “religious bigots, bandits and militants” in different parts of Nigeria, according to local police chief on Wednesday.
“In the past three months, the [police] force has lost 128 personnel in various parts of the country due to activities of these undesirable elements in our communities,” Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris said in a statement issued in the capital Abuja city.
The police chief cited cases of attacks on policemen in northwestern Zamfara state where bandits attacked locals and police personnel at a mineral-extracting site, as well as attacks by militants on police in southeastern Anambra state and in the oil-rich Rivers state.