The Rivers State Police Command reported that on Wednesday, April 25, 2024, unknown gunmen killed Police Inspector Sunday Baba during their operation at Rumuolumeni in Rivers State. The command mourned the death of the brave police officer and described it as a sad reality that police officers leave home in good health but are never certain of their return. This incident marks one of the many attacks on police operatives by gunmen in the state in recent times.
According to reports, Inspector Sunday Baba lost his life while on duty. The perpetrators fled the scene but their vehicle was recovered by the police. The incident occurred two months after another operative was killed by gunmen while conducting a stop and search operation in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Gunmen have stepped up attacks on police operatives in Rivers State, killing many of them. In 2021, seven operatives were killed at two different police facilities in the state – three were killed in Elimgbu police station while two were murdered at the divisional police headquarters in Rumuji. Two operatives were also killed at an attack on a security checkpoint along the East-West Road. In August last year, a police inspector was shot dead in front of a hotel in Port Harcourt and his rifle was carted away. Another superintendent of police and divisional police officer in charge of Ahoada East Local Government Area was beheaded by gunmen.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, took to social media to mourn Inspector Sunday Baba’s death and shared that his phone revealed 59 missed calls, 51 of which were from his wife before he lost his life. Disu described being a police officer as leaving home in good health but never certain of returning alive and urged people to honor the sacrifices of officers whose lives have been taken.
