More than seven weeks after three police bomb disposal experts were killed while clearing improvised explosive devices, IEDs, planted by bandits in Zamfara State, concerns have been raised over the alleged lack of support for the families of the fallen officers.
The officers, who served under the Violent Crimes Response Unit, VCRU, of the Nigeria Police Force, were killed on June 16, 2026, during a high-risk counter-IED operation along the Anka-Bagega Road in Anka Local Government Area of the state.
PRNigeria reports that the development has sparked concerns among serving officers, who warned that inadequate welfare for the families of personnel killed in the line of duty could undermine the morale of officers engaged in counter-insurgency operations across the North-West.
The deceased officers were identified as Superintendent of Police Abdulrazak Hassan, commander of the VCRU and head of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal, EOD, team; Inspector Murtala Musa; and Inspector Auwal Ahmad.
The three officers were reportedly among the police force’s experienced bomb technicians deployed to Zamfara to counter the increasing use of explosives by bandits and other criminal groups.
According to security sources cited by PRNigeria, the team had detected and neutralised several IEDs planted along the highway before their Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, struck another concealed explosive device.
The blast reportedly destroyed the APC, after which armed bandits emerged from nearby hideouts and engaged the surviving personnel in a gun battle.
The attackers subsequently set the damaged APC ablaze before fleeing into the forest, according to the report.
The incident reportedly shocked the police hierarchy, prompting the then Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to travel to Gusau, where he attended the funeral prayers of the officers and condoled with their families.
Mr Egbetokun described the deceased personnel as heroes who paid the ultimate price in the service of the nation and vowed to intensify operations against banditry and terrorism.
“There will be no safe haven for criminals,” the IGP was quoted as saying.
However, officers currently involved in counter-insurgency operations told PRNigeria that despite the national recognition accorded the fallen personnel, the Zamfara State Government had allegedly not provided any support to their families.
One of the officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal to intervene.
“We have seen how some state governments support families of security personnel who die defending their states. Unfortunately, more than a month after these officers paid the supreme sacrifice, their families are still waiting for any form of intervention from the Zamfara State Government,” the operative said.
The officers said the deceased left behind young families with significant responsibilities.
According to them, SP Hassan is survived by his wife and four children, while Inspectors Musa and Ahmad each left behind two wives and five children.
“They were not ordinary policemen. They were among our finest EOD experts who risked their lives daily to detect and destroy explosives planted on roads used by innocent commuters.
“Before the incident that claimed their lives, they had successfully neutralised numerous IEDs and saved countless lives,” another officer said.
The officers warned that inadequate welfare and lack of support for the families of fallen personnel could affect the morale of security personnel assigned to similarly hazardous operations.
They said members of the VCRU continued to risk their lives in operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks, rescuing kidnapped victims, recovering rustled cattle and intercepting illegal arms across Zamfara and neighbouring states.
“Many are asking what becomes of their own families if the same thing happens to them,” one of the sources said.
The officers urged the Zamfara State Government to emulate states that have introduced welfare packages and relief programmes for families of security personnel killed in the line of duty.
They argued that such interventions would not only provide assistance to bereaved families but also boost the morale and operational effectiveness of personnel fighting banditry and other forms of insecurity.
Zamfara Government Yet to Respond