Ten police officers and two civilians have been killed following a gun battle between security personnel and suspected bandits along the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The confrontation occurred at about 9:25am on Monday, August 10, after police officers reportedly intercepted a group of armed men moving from Zamfara towards Kebbi.
The spokesperson for the Kebbi State Police Command, Bashir Usman, said at least 17 suspected bandits were killed during the encounter, while four motorcycles belonging to the attackers were destroyed.
“Several of the attackers were neutralised, with at least 17 suspected bandits so far assessed to have been neutralised,” Usman said.
He, however, noted that the casualty figures were still being verified as security agencies continued their operations in the area.
“Tragically, we lost 10 gallant police personnel in the engagement, while two others sustained injuries and are receiving medical attention. Two civilians also lost their lives during the encounter,” he added.
The injured officers were taken to medical facilities for treatment, while the police said arrangements were being made to support the families of the deceased personnel.
The two civilians killed were identified as 50-year-old Mohammadu Magwawara and 45-year-old Muhammadu Tiritiri.
Another civilian, 41-year-old Shehu Abubakar, reportedly sustained serious gunshot injuries. He was initially taken to the General Hospital in Dirin Daji before being referred to the Federal Teaching Hospital in Birnin Kebbi for further treatment.
Reports of Weapons Seized
The encounter has also raised concerns over the weapons available to the armed group following reports that the attackers seized firearms from the security personnel.
A report attributed to a police situation report claimed that the bandits took away one RPG rifle, two riot guns and 10 AK-47 rifles, alongside other ammunition.
The report also identified the deceased officers as members of the 44 Police Mobile Force, Abuja, who had been deployed to the area on special duty.
However, the Kebbi State Police Command has not confirmed the reported loss of weapons and did not disclose the identities or specific units of the officers who were killed.
Bandits Moving from Zamfara
The incident occurred amid heightened security concerns along the Zamfara-Kebbi border following reports of a large movement of armed bandits towards communities in Kebbi.
The Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA was also reportedly deployed to conduct airstrikes against an armed group detected moving from the Sangeko Gap in Zamfara towards the Makuku area of Kebbi.
Some reports claimed that more than 200 fighters, travelling on motorcycles, were involved in the movement, although security authorities have yet to officially confirm the figure.
It remains unclear whether the reported airstrikes occurred before or after the confrontation that resulted in the deaths of the police officers and civilians.
Meanwhile, the police said follow-up operations were ongoing to track bandits who escaped from the encounter.
Usman said further details would be released as security authorities complete their assessment of the incident.
The latest development highlights the continuing security challenges along the Zamfara-Kebbi corridor, where armed groups have exploited inter-state boundaries to move between communities and carry out attacks.
