Ten police officers and two civilians have been killed in a gun battle with suspected bandits in Kebbi State, the Nigeria Police Force has said.
The confrontation happened at about 9:25 a.m. on Monday along the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area, close to routes linking Kebbi and neighbouring Zamfara State.
Police said its operatives intercepted a heavily armed group suspected of moving between the two states, triggering an exchange of gunfire.
According to the Force, at least 17 suspected bandits were killed during the fighting, while four motorcycles used by the group were destroyed.
Ten police officers were also killed and two others wounded. The injured personnel are receiving medical treatment.
Two civilians were killed during the confrontation, although police have not provided further details about the circumstances of their deaths.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, described the deaths of the officers as a painful loss to the Force and the country and expressed condolences to their families.
He said the officers had died while carrying out their duty and assured their relatives that their sacrifice would be remembered.
The bodies of the officers have been taken to Birnin Kebbi.
Police say additional personnel have been deployed to the area, which authorities say has now been brought under control, while security forces continue operations to locate members of the armed group who escaped.
The Force also says it will provide support to the families of the officers killed and to those injured in the attack.
The incident underscores the continuing security challenge posed by armed groups operating across Nigeria’s north-west and parts of the north-central region, where criminal gangs have carried out killings, kidnappings and attacks on communities and security personnel.
The latest confrontation also highlights the risks faced by security forces attempting to disrupt the movement of armed groups across state boundaries.
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(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
