NIGERIA – 3 Nigerian police officers were on Sunday killed, while 7 others were abducted in an armed attack in Benue State according to local authorities.

Benjamin Hundeyin, public relations officer for the Nigerian Police, said in a statement that unidentified armed assailants targeted police personnel in the Agu area.

Hundeyin confirmed that three officers lost their lives during the attack while seven were taken hostage. He added that security forces have been dispatched to the region and six suspects have been detained in connection with the incident.

Nigeria has recently faced a surge in attacks across various regions by armed gangs as well as by terrorist groups including Boko Haram and the West African branch of ISIS (Daesh), known as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The country also frequently experiences kidnappings for ransom, despite the death penalty being a legal punishment for such crimes.

Armed individuals and gang members often target villages, schools and travelers, particularly in the northern regions, demanding ransom payments.