Hundreds of residents of Egbe in Yagba West local government area of Kogi state on Thursday staged a protest over rising insecurity in their community.
The protesters, made up of youths and elderly persons, blocked a major road and set tyres ablaze to draw attention to their plight.
Videos show a military vehicle trailing the demonstrators who carried placards with inscriptions such as: “End insecurity, Federal Government, please protect our lives,” “Enough is enough,” “Stop selling bread to kidnappers,” and “Stop renting your house to informants to kidnappers.”
The protest followed the killing of three police officers at a checkpoint in Egbe on Wednesday.
Gunmen reportedly attacked the security post, killed the officers, and carted away their rifles.
Community members accused some residents of aiding kidnappers by renting houses to informants or supplying items to criminal elements.
Egbe, a border town between Kogi and Kwara South, has recorded frequent cases of kidnapping, raising fears among residents.
Spokesperson of the Kogi police command, William Ovye Aya, confirmed the attack.
He said the slain officers were on duty when the assailants opened fire.