Terror bandits have reportedly killed five police operatives, including three soldiers on Thursday morning during a deadly ambush in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The ambush occurred when security operatives were escorting workers from Setraco Nigeria Limited, a construction company operating in the area.
According to a military source, the security personnel were caught off guard when the bandits opened fire.
Five police officers and three soldiers, were killed in the ambush.
However, a swift military response prevented further casualties among the Setraco workers and the remaining security forces.
“We lost three soldiers and five policemen, and their rifles were taken by the terrorists.” Despite the losses, the ensuing gun battle resulted in the deaths of several bandits”, the source said.
Following the attack, police evacuated the bodies of both the security personnel and the bandits. This tragic incident closely follows reports of bandits blocking the Gusau-Funtua highway in Zamfara, kidnapping an unspecified number of travelers.
The Zamfara State Police Command, through it’s spokesman, Yezid Abubakar, confirmed the highway abductions and stated that police personnel had been deployed to the scene, though they were still awaiting further details regarding the number of victims.
Meanwhile, Zamfara State continues to face significant challenges from banditry, with frequent attacks targeting both security personnel and civilians.