Edo checkpoint turns deadly as gunmen shoot Police Inspector dead

By Usman Aliyu

A routine stop-and-search operation in Benin, Edo State, turned deadly on Friday when gunmen opened fire on police officers, killing an inspector attached to the Ekiadolor Area Command.

The incident occurred around noon when an unregistered, heavily tinted black Lexus SUV approached a checkpoint and refused to stop despite repeated signals from officers.

According to a statement from Edo Police Command spokesperson CSP Moses Yamu, the vehicle’s suspicious behaviour prompted officers to attempt further checks.

What followed was a sudden, close-range attack.

“One of the occupants opened fire on the Inspector at close range and sped off,” Yamu said. The officer died instantly.

The killing has prompted an aggressive response from the police hierarchy.

Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has ordered a full-scale investigation and launched an intensive manhunt for the assailants.

All intelligence and operational assets have been deployed as authorities attempt to track the fleeing gunmen.

Agbonika appealed to residents to assist with credible information, particularly any sightings of a vehicle matching the SUV’s description.

He urged the public to remain alert and report suspicious activity via the Command’s emergency hotlines.

Security has now been heightened across Edo State as the festive season approaches, with the police assuring residents of their commitment to protecting lives and property.