Oluwanifemi Ibikunle
Ten police officers and two civilians were killed on Monday when security operatives engaged a heavily armed bandit group in a gun battle in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed the casualties on Tuesday, saying 17 suspected bandits were also neutralised during the encounter at the Rafin Makuku axis.
Two other police officers sustained injuries in the confrontation, which occurred around 9:25am when police operatives intercepted the suspected bandits moving between Zamfara and Kebbi states.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed the development in a statement, describing the slain officers as personnel who died in the line of duty while confronting the armed group.
According to the police, four motorcycles belonging to the suspected bandits were also destroyed during the operation.
The latest confirmation came after an earlier police situation report indicated that personnel attached to the 44 Police Mobile Force, Abuja, deployed on special duty in Makuku, Sakaba LGA, had been killed during the gun battle.
The situation report, dated August 10, stated that information received by the police around 7:40pm indicated that the bandits had killed the personnel following the encounter.
A team led by the Divisional Police Officer of Sakaba Division, DSP Umaru Bagudu, subsequently visited the scene and recovered the bodies of the slain officers.
The deceased officers were identified as ASP Bala Buba, Inspector Saminu Sulaiman, Inspector Solomon Jatau, Inspector Ayuba Hassain, Inspector Umar Yahuza, Inspector Auwal Sani, Sergeant Jimoh Momo, Corporal Ukpong Otrukmj, Inspector Adamu Abdullahi and Inspector Abdullahi Magaji.
The two civilians killed in the incident were identified as Mohammadu Magwawara and Muhammadu Tiritiri.
Confirming the deaths, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, expressed grief over what he described as a painful loss to the police and the nation.
Disu commiserated with the families and colleagues of the fallen officers, saying they paid the ultimate price while defending the people they were sworn to protect.
He assured the bereaved families that the sacrifice of the officers would not be forgotten and pledged continued support for their dependants as well as the injured personnel.
The police said the remains of the 10 officers had been conveyed to Birnin Kebbi.
It added that the area had been brought under control following the engagement, while additional security personnel had been deployed to reinforce operations.
The reinforcement, according to the Force, was aimed at sustaining the pursuit of fleeing members of the criminal group and preventing them from regrouping.
The latest attack underscores the continuing security challenges along the Kebbi-Zamfara axis, where armed criminal groups have repeatedly exploited difficult terrain and vast rural communities to operate across state boundaries.
The police assured residents that security operations would continue until the fleeing suspects were brought to justice.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
