A recent attack by bandits has led to the death of at least five officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Zamfara State.
A police source confirmed the identity of the slain officers, who are said to be of the rank of Inspectors.
According to SaharaReporters, the source revealed that the bandits, suspected to have links to the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), ambushed security operatives during a joint operation with the military at Magami, a community in Zamfara State near the Niger Republic.
He explained that the Police Inspectors were part of Operation Hadarin Daji – the joint exercise launched against bandits and other criminals in the North-West region and coordinated by the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
The source reportedly claimed that the police inspectors were members of his unit. He said they were killed in the ambush, which happened in the early hours of Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
The source revealed the identity of the deceased officers as Inspector Suleiman Audu, Inspector Sanusi, Inspector Tanzin Audu from Nasarawa State, Inspector Dashi and Yahaya Ibrahim.
He said: “It was not an easy task. In the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday), our joint patrol operation in the Magami area of Zamfara was ambushed.
“Magami is a border area with the Niger Republic, so it is easy for the bandits to escape freely when the battle becomes tough.”
According to SaharaReporters, the Zamfara State police spokesperson, Yazid Abubakar, when contacted, could neither confirm nor refute the report.
He reportedly said that he was not in a position to comment on the incident since it was a joint operation from the DHQ.
Seven Soldiers, Others Killed In Fresh Bandits’ Attack In Zamfara
Naija News reports that the latest attack in Zamfara is coming a few hours after about seven soldiers were reportedly killed in a confrontation with bandits in the state.
It was gathered that the bandits had invaded Kangon Garacce, a community in the Dangulbi district of the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara, on Monday, killing scores of people.
A resident of the Dangulbi community, Lawal Dangulbi, who spoke to newsmen on the attack, said the Nigerian Army troops responded to a distress call about the attack on the community but were ambushed while coming for the rescue mission.
“The bandits divided themselves; some were attacking the community while some were stationed outside the community to prevent the military from assisting the villagers; they ambushed the troops and killed seven of them,” the resident told Channels Television on Tuesday.
According to him, no fewer than 20 residents of the community were killed during the attack.
Although the Nigerian Army authorities in Zamfara State are yet to comment on the incident, a security source who is familiar with the situation but preferred anonymity because he is not authorised to speak confirmed that seven officers of the Nigerian Army were killed during the attack on Monday.
