The Nigeria Police Force has lost seven police officers attached to the Special Forces Unit in a road accident.
The victims were on their way to Katsina State their new place of deployment when their vehicle crashed on July 12.
Force spokesman, Frank Mba, said in a statement on Tuesday that the accident involved an 18-seater Toyota Hummer Bus conveying 18 personnel of the unit at Jaji town along Kaduna-Zaria Road.
The deceased Mr Mba said were part of an additional deployment made recently by the police to boost the ongoing fight against bandits in Birnin-Gwari, Katsina.
According to him, the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu has condoled the families of the seven police officers.
Mba said the IGP, who described the incident as a huge loss to the Force, noted that the incident is one of the unfortunate sacrifices, officers often encounter in the line of duty, describing the deceased as “heroes of peace”.
Mba said: “A team of Police Medical Personnel has been dispatched to Kaduna State where eleven (11) officers that survived the accident are receiving medical attention.
“Three of the deceased officers have been buried according to Islamic rites while the remains of the other four officers have been deposited in a Morgue.
“Meanwhile, the IGP has directed the Police Accounts and Budget Department to ensure the immediate payment of the burial expenses, benefits and other entitlements to the families of the deceased officers.”
