SAA event in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Bokkos-Barkin Ladi road area, Nigeria on Tue 22nd September 2026

Deputy Commander of Operation Rainbow killed in ambush by Fulani Bandits along Bokkos-Barkin Ladi road

By: Zagazola Makama

The Deputy Commander of Operation Rainbow, CSP Dennis David Babale, has been killed after gunmen suspected to be Fulani Bandits ambushed personnel of the security outfit along the Bokkos-Barkin Ladi road in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. Zagazola Makama reports that the incident occurred at about 4:06 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, when the personnel, travelling in a Toyota Hilux vehicle, came under attack by unidentified gunmen.

Troops of Sector 4, Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), responded to a distress report and moved to the location of the attack. Sources said that Babale sustained gunshot wounds during the ambush and was evacuated to the General Hospital, Barkin Ladi, for medical attention. He, however, later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Following the attack, troops, working alongside personnel of other security agencies, launched offensive operations and a manhunt for the assailants within the general area. Security forces have intensified efforts to track the attackers and prevent further attacks along the route. The latest incident comes amid heightened security concerns in parts of Plateau State, where armed attacks and reprisals have continued to pose challenges to the safety of communities and security personnel.