Police officer killed in armed robbery ambush during escort mission

A routine security escort turned tragic in Benin City, Edo State, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, as a Nigerian police sergeant, Aminu Yusuf, was shot and killed during an ambush by suspected armed robbers.

The incident occurred around 2:45 p.m. along First East Circular Road, shortly after Sgt. Yusuf and his team had completed a cash withdrawal from Zenith Bank’s Sapele Road branch while escorting a Chinese national.

According to intelligence from security analyst Zagazola Makama, the assailants—believed to be heavily armed robbers—laid in wait and launched a surprise attack shortly after the withdrawal was made. The police team, which was providing authorized escort services, came under fire in what appears to have been a carefully planned hit.

Sgt. Yusuf, who bore Force Number 504545, was attached to a private company under a legitimate police assignment. On that fateful day, his duty was to ensure the safe movement of an expatriate during a cash run a task that sadly cost him his life.

“While returning from the bank with N5 million cash, their vehicle was attacked by four armed men who opened fire on the team, fatally wounding Sgt. Yusuf and making away with his AK-47 rifle (Breech No. BD 347851), 30 rounds of ammunition, and the cash,” said the sources.

Following the attack, Yusuf was rushed to the Specialist Hospital in Benin but was declared dead on arrival. His body has since been taken to God’s Care Morgue.

The state police command has launched a manhunt for the attackers and is working to recover both the missing weapon and the stolen funds.