Abubakar Mahmood, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Gwer-West Local Government Area in Benue State, was killed yesterday by people suspected to be herders. 

Mahmood was killed around noon on the Naka-Makurdi road by people believed to be herders. 

Investigations showed that the DPO rushed to help commuters being attacked near a military checkpoint. 

“When the herders saw him coming, they shot him, and he died right there,” a source said. “They thereafter fled into the bush.” 

Kate Anene, a police spokeswoman, also confirmed the death. 

Peter Akuusu, a leader in the town of Naka, said that the officer who died was a kind and humble man who had just been sent to the area. 

According to information gathered by NewsXtra, the 30-minute drive from Makurdi to Naka takes roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes due to poor road conditions and the presence of two military checkpoints manned by troops of Operations Whirl Stroke (OPWS).