Two police officers have been killed, while two others sustained injuries during a night attack on the Divisional Police Headquarters in Zonkwa, Zango-Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The gunmen also freed several inmates detained at the police station during the attack, which occurred on Friday night.
This incident follows the arrest of suspects involved in the vandalism of a transformer in Ramai, a community located about five kilometers from Zonkwa town, the headquarters of Zango-Kataf LGA.
The attackers, alleged to have come from Kachia town in Kachia LGA, stormed the Zonkwa Divisional Police Headquarters after the suspected vandals were apprehended by police personnel.
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers believed their gang members were being held at the divisional headquarters and launched the assault in an attempt to free them.
Several inmates were released in the process; however, none of the transformer vandalism suspects were freed, as they were being held at a separate security facility.
Combined troops of the Civil Defence Corps, police officers, vigilante volunteers, local hunters, and community members repelled the attackers after a fierce gun battle that lasted several hours.
An eyewitness said a female police officer, initially believed to have been kidnapped, was later found safe. She admitted to fleeing for her life during the attack.
“I just confirmed from an eyewitness and a credible source that none of the police officers was kidnapped and no weapons were seized. Only one officer’s mobile phone was stolen. Officers who sought cover during the attack were mistakenly assumed to have been kidnapped by the gunmen,” the source said.
“The gunmen overpowered the police on duty, who tried to repel the attack. It is suspected that the mission was to free some suspects who were caught vandalizing a transformer at Ramai community a few days ago.”
“More information reaching me suggests that the suspected transformer vandals from Kachia LGA were apprehended by community youths in Ramai on 16 October 2025 and were in NSCDC custody. The gunmen apparently attacked the wrong location.”
The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the killing of two officers during an attack on the Zonkwa Divisional Police Headquarters.
According to the spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, two police officers on duty, DSP Monday Madaki and Inspector Bin Magaji, sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to the hospital, where doctors later confirmed their deaths.