A group of armed bandits has attacked a road checkpoint in the Abugi community of Lokoja, Kogi State, resulting in the deaths of two police officers and a passerby.

The attack occurred on Sunday morning when the bandits, who were on motorcycles and heavily armed, ambushed the officers while they were working at the checkpoint on Abugi-Gugurugi road. This violent incident has raised concerns about safety in the area.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers shot sporadically into air before seizing the policemen’s rifles and fled the scene.

A resident told our reporter that the unsuspecting passerby was caught in the crossfire and died instantly.

The gunmen escaped on their motorcycle before security reinforcements could arrive.

The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the morgue, while the area has been cordoned off to restore calm.

This fresh attack is coming few days after three policemen were killed by bandits at a road checkpoint in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government of Kogi State.

It adds to the rising concerns over security challenges in Kogi State and across the region, where banditry and armed violence have claimed several lives in recent months.

The state police command is yet to comment on the incident.