Two officers killed as police foil attack on Zamfara community

The police command in Zamfara says two of its officers were killed over the weekend, as security operatives engaged a group of bandits who attempted to attack Magami village in Gusau LGA.

Shehu Mohammed, Zamfara police spokesman, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

He said several of the bandits were killed in the incident, adding that more operatives have been deployed to the area.

“Yesterday night, the command received a report that bandits in their large numbers stormed Magami town in Gusau LGA with intent to attack the community,” the statement reads.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Hussaini Rabiu, directed Police Tactical units, comprising of PMF/CTU/Special forces and Operation Puff Adder based in the area to synergise and ensure protection of lives and property of the people.

“The tactical units moved in courageously and engaged the assailants in a gun duel. As a result of the encounter, the attack was successfully repelled, while unspecified number of bandits were neutralised with many of them escaping with possible gunshot wounds.

“Two of our operatives paid the supreme price, while defending the innocent members of the communities, but there was no loss of life in the communities.”

The spokesman added that the police commissioner also issued a warning to persons involved in banditry to surrender their weapons.

“The CP reiterates his warning to all recalcitrant bandits in the state to either surrender their arms and embrace peace or face the consequences of their actions,” he said.

“The CP also urged police operatives in the command to aggressively defend themselves and the community in any engagement with bandits and ensure that they dominate the ungoverned spaces on a continuous basis.”