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A violent confrontation in northwestern Nigeria has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. According to police statements, ten officers were killed during a clash with an armed criminal group in Kebbi State on Monday. The engagement also claimed the lives of 17 suspected gang members and two civilians caught in the crossfire.
Authorities report that officers engaged with approximately 240 armed individuals traveling on over 200 motorcycles as they moved from neighboring Zamfara State. Police spokesman Bashir Usman confirmed the deaths and noted that two additional officers sustained injuries requiring medical treatment. Investigators indicated that final casualty figures are still being verified.
The incident underscores the persistent security challenges plaguing Nigeria’s northwestern region, where criminal organizations regularly conduct cattle rustling operations and kidnappings for ransom. The broader conflict has displaced more than half a million residents across Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states, according to United Nations research. Last month, a separate bandit attack on villages in Zamfara resulted in at least 20 deaths.
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Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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