An operative of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has been killed following a gun battle between police officers and suspected cultists in Bakassi Yimitu Village in the Apo-Waru axis of Abuja.
SP Josephine Adeh, Spokesperson of the FCT command, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday, revealing that the fatal confrontation occurred during an operation carried out by a Joint Task Force led by the Police, which included local vigilantes and hunters.
According to the police spokesperson, the security team encountered the suspected cultists on Wednesday while on patrol in the area where the group had reportedly been causing mayhem.
"Upon sighting security personnel, they opened fire," Adeh stated in the report.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 19 suspects who were subsequently detained at Waru Police Outstation, while others escaped with various degrees of injuries. Tragically, one police officer and a local vigilante sustained serious injuries during the exchange and were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
Cultists Launch Retaliatory Attack on Police Station
In a disturbing development, the police reported that shortly after the initial confrontation, the escaped cultists regrouped and launched a coordinated attack on the Waru Police Outstation in an attempt to free their detained accomplices.
During this attack, the suspects vandalized three patrol Hilux vehicles and damaged six privately owned cars within the premises of the police station.
"The miscreants were repelled. Reinforcements were swiftly deployed to the scene, and normalcy has since been restored," Adeh confirmed.
This incident highlights the growing concern over cult-related violence in the Federal Capital Territory and raises questions about security measures in suburban areas of Abuja.
The FCT Police Command has not yet released further details about the identities of the slain officer or the injured vigilante, nor have they provided information about the specific cult group involved in the clash.
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