ABUJA, Aug. 11 — A total of 29 people, including 10 policemen and two civilians, were killed during a gunfight between security operatives and suspected bandits in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Kebbi, police said Tuesday.
In a statement, the Kebbi State police said 17 bandits were killed during the encounter after security operatives intercepted the gunmen, who were riding motorcycles, in the Rafin Makuku area on their way from neighboring Zamfara State Monday evening.
Some of the gunmen fled the scene with gunshot wounds, raising the possibility that the number of casualties among the bandits could increase, the statement said. Four motorcycles used by the gunmen were also disabled.
The police added that two security operatives were also injured during the gunfight, describing the deceased policemen as “brave personnel who paid the ultimate price while defending the people of the state.”
Nigeria has been confronted with a myriad of security challenges, including terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, armed militancy, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and farmer-herder conflicts. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
