• Troops neutralise over 15 terrorists in Zamfara

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed 10 officers and two civilians killed, while two other policemen sustained injuries during a gun battle with suspected bandits in Sakaba Local Council Area of Kebbi State on Monday.

The incident was said to have occurred when police operatives intercepted a heavily armed group of suspected bandits along the RafinMakuku axis as they were reportedly moving between Zamfara and Kebbi states.

However, a statement yesterday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed that no fewer than 17 suspected bandits were also neutralised during the confrontation, while four motorcycles belonging to the attackers were destroyed.

Also, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kebbi State Command, Bashir Usman, explained in a statement yesterday that armed mobile police personnel, acting on credible intelligence, had swiftly moved to the area and engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides.

Reacting to the incident, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, described the deaths as a painful loss to the NPF and the nation at large, stressing that the officers paid the ultimate price while protecting the people they swore to serve.

He expressed grief at the loss of the officers and extended his condolences to their families and loved ones, assuring the families of the fallen personnel that their sacrifices would not be forgotten and pledging continued support to both the bereaved families and the injured personnel.

The police said the remains of the deceased officers had been evacuated to Birnin Kebbi, while the affected area had been brought under control.

It added that additional security personnel had been deployed to reinforce the area and pledged to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible for the attack.

In another development, no fewer than 15 bandits have been reportedly killed at Gamo community in Gummi Local Council Area of Zamfara State.

The Guardian learnt that the attack followed distress calls to the Operation FansanYamma troops on Monday about some terrorist activities in the area.

Though the casualty figure from the troops is not yet known, unconfirmed reports also indicated that some security operatives were lost.