Seventeen suspected bandits and 10 police officers were killed on Monday during a gun battle between security forces and a large group of armed men moving from Zamfara State into Kebbi State.
The clash occurred around the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State, according to the Kebbi State Police Command.
Two civilians were also killed, while two police officers sustained injuries in the encounter.
The police spokesperson, DSP Bashir Usman, said security personnel intercepted the suspected bandits as they moved between Zamfara and Kebbi states.
“This morning, our men intercepted and engaged a heavily armed group of suspected bandits moving between Zamfara and Kebbi States along the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area,” Usman said.
He said 17 suspected bandits had so far been assessed to have been neutralised, while four motorcycles belonging to the attackers were burnt during the operation.
Usman, however, said the casualty figures were still subject to further verification.
The police spokesperson confirmed the death of 10 officers and two civilians, adding that two other officers were injured and receiving medical treatment.
According to residents, the armed group was estimated to comprise about 240 men travelling on more than 200 motorcycles.
A resident of Makuku, Malam Musa Sani, said the group moved in three formations from the Sangeko Gap area of Dansadau District in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
He said the men camped overnight in a forest between Kakihum and Makuku before moving towards Maburya on Monday morning.
Sani alleged that the group encountered a mobile police checkpoint while attempting to enter the community and overpowered the personnel.
He claimed that 10 mobile policemen and two civilians were killed and that the attackers took away the officers’ rifles.
The police did not confirm the allegation that the attackers seized the officers’ weapons.
Usman described the slain officers as personnel who fought with courage and professionalism during the encounter.
He said the command’s immediate priorities were to support the families of the deceased officers, provide medical care for the injured and continue operations against the fleeing bandits.
