Globally, policing remains one of the most dangerous occupations. Police officers, by the nature of their profession, routinely come into contact with violent criminals and are exposed to risky situations. In Nigeria, police homicide has become a serious problem as the recorded number of police deaths in the line of duty is increasing nationally.
PAUL AKPU
During the #endsars protest, some hoodlums under the guise of #EndSARS protesters in Ebonyi state, allegedly murdered a police inspector. On October 21, the first of the protest in the state, two policemen sustained bullet injuries and two days later one of the victims, Akpu died while on admission at Alex-Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.
In the Course of the Numerous Fights against Deadly and Notorious Criminals across the Country, the IRT Unit lost 10 Officers directly in the line of duty during gun battles with Armed Robbers/Kidnappers/Terrorists.
SGT EMMANUEL ISTIFANU, INSPECTOR HARUNA IBRAHIM, INSP MAMMAN ABUBAKAR, INSPECTOR BERNARD ODIBO
Four policemen working with the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have died in the service of their nation. They were killed in the northern state of Kaduna by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers. Six of the kidnappers were also killed in the exchange of gunfire.
SERGEANT FELIC IGBASAN

The gallant officer attached to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT) died after sustaining multiple bullet wounds during a fierce gun duel with an eight-man notorious armed robbery gang in Abuja. Late Igbasan, who was described as the bravest and most reliable officer in the team was before his transfer to Abuja, a member of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lagos.
SERGEANT LANRE SANUSI

Sanusi was shot in a gun battle with the abductors of the four British citizens in Delta State and died after few days, following a surgery conducted to extract the bullet in his stomach to rectify the damage it had caused. He was one of the leading ‘field detectives’ who tracked and demystified billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuadike aka Evans.
SERGEANT SUAIBU SUNDAYS

On March 21, 2019, when the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police embarked on anti-kidnapping operation in Plateau State, they came back with one man down. According to police authorities, 40-year-old Sgt Shaibu Sunday was killed by the villains during a fierce gun battle.
CHUKWUDI IBOKO and SUNDAY AGBO

They are described by many Nigerians as heroes after a viral video showed Iboko gunning down one of the four armed robbers who attacked a bank in Imo State in February 2017. Sadly they got shot during the incident and died two months after the incident. IGP Idris Ibrahim dedicated the mega office complex in honour of the officers as a result of their selfless service in the Nigeria Police Force to inspire other officers to put such valiant effort in the discharge of their various duties. According to IGP Idris, the officers were honoured because they are patriotic to the discharge of their duties. He said, “The officers have shown serious Commitment in delivering their gallant duty while they are on duty and the Nigeria Police force will never forget them.”
Others are officers that have lost their lives in the line of duty are, CORPORAL SUNDAY SAMUEL FAFOLUYI, INSPECTOR TOM MOHAMMED, INSPECTOR FRANCIS ODUBANJO and INSPECTOR ROBERT FRANCIS.



