By Bodunrin Kayode
A wave of fear swept through Zonkwa town in Kaduna State on Friday evening, after suspected bandits launched a deadly assault on a local police post, killing two officers in uniform.
The attack took place in the Kurmin-Bi area, close to Kamyim Hotel, within the Zangon Kataf Local Government Area. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as the attackers arrived and began firing indiscriminately, sending residents scrambling for safety.
According to local sources, the assailants were reportedly on a mission to free their comrades, who they believed were being held at the Zonkwa Police Station. However, it later emerged that the information they acted on was incorrect — the suspects they came for were not detained at that location.
Tragically, two officers lost their lives in the attack. Their bodies have since been evacuated from the scene.
The incident drew a crowd of stunned residents, many expressing outrage over the growing boldness of criminal groups in the region. For many, it was yet another reminder of the worsening security situation not just in Kaduna, but across northern Nigeria.
While calm has since returned to Zonkwa, the community remains on edge. The assault has reignited national conversations around the need for stronger, localised security frameworks.
President Bola Tinubu recently acknowledged the urgent need for state policing as a way to support Nigeria’s overstretched federal police force — a sentiment echoed by many Nigerians, especially in conflict-prone regions.
The unanimous backing from the 36 state governors for the establishment of state police forces is seen by many as a long-overdue step toward curbing the impunity with which criminal elements currently operate.
As the nation grapples with mounting insecurity, communities like Zonkwa serve as stark reminders that urgent action is needed — and soon.
