Nearly 100 Police Officers Lost in Ten Months: Nigeria's Frontline Is Bleeding ‎

At least 98 police officers were killed in 21 states between January and October 2026. Bandits, gunmen and terrorists caused most of the deaths.

Who is killing them
Bandits killed 35 officers, gunmen 29 and Boko Haram insurgents 22, while Lakurawa terrorists killed two. Other deaths came from road accidents, hit-and-run incidents, kidnappers and thugs. A few officers were also shot dead by colleagues.

Where the toll is highest
Yobe recorded the most deaths at 17, followed by Zamfara and Kebbi with 14 each. Most of the Yobe deaths came when terrorists attacked the Army Special Forces School in Buni Yadi on 16 May, where police personnel were in specialised training. Katsina recorded five deaths.

A trend, not an accident
The 2026 figure is part of a longer pattern. Daily Trust earlier found that at least 229 officers were killed between January 2023 and October 2024. That included 118 in 2023 and 111 in the first ten months of 2024. Attacks on police stations, checkpoints and patrol teams also killed at least 45 officers in a single year.

The violence continues
Gunmen ambushed a police convoy in Zamfara this week, and police confirmed five officers dead. The officers were travelling to guard a ruling-party primary rerun.

Stretched thin
Nigeria has an estimated 371,800 police personnel, but only about 271,800 are available for public policing. A presidential directive revealed that 11,566 officers were on VIP escort duty. Inspector-General Olatunji Disu has already voiced concern over the rising killings of officers in the line of duty.

What must change
The police can't be expected to protect citizens if they cannot protect themselves. Better equipment, intelligence, welfare for the families of fallen officers, and redeploying VIP escorts to frontline duty would be a start.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,
International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. (USIP)
[email protected]
+233555275880

References
Daily Trust, "Insecurity: How 98 cops were killed in 10 months" (dailytrust.com, Nov 2026)

Prompt News Online, "98 police officers killed in attacks, accidents across 21 states" (promptnewsonline.com)

21st Century Chronicle, "98 police officers killed in 10 months — Report", 3 Nov 2026

HNGN, "Gunmen Ambush Police Convoy in Nigeria's Zamfara, Killing 5", 3 Nov 2026

Daily Trust, "229 police officers killed in 22 months" (dailytrust.com)

Daily Trust, "Attacks on police facilities kill 45 officers in 1yr", 9 Feb 2026

Intelpoint, "Policemen dedicated to VIP protection account for nearly one-third of 371,800 personnel" (intelpoint.co)

AllAfrica, "Nigeria: IGP Raises Alarm Over Rising Killings of Police Officers Nationwide", 24 June 2026