Suspected bandits have reportedly killed several Nigerian police officers travelling from Sokoto State to Zamfara State for a special duty assignment.
The officers were attacked on Monday, November 2, while travelling to Zamfara when armed men reportedly ambushed the vehicle conveying them.
The exact number of personnel killed in the attack and whether any officers survived remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.
Photographs obtained from the scene reportedly showed the lifeless bodies of some officers inside a bus, with their hands and legs appearing to have been tied with ropes.
Other images showed the officers’ personal belongings scattered on the ground as residents gathered at the scene following the attack.
The vehicle conveying the personnel was also seen with visible bloodstains, suggesting the severity of the incident.
The attack has heightened concerns over the persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West, where armed groups have continued to attack communities, ambush travellers, kill residents and abduct people for ransom.
Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Kaduna states have been among the areas frequently affected by attacks attributed to armed bandits.
When contacted for confirmation, the spokespersons of the Sokoto and Zamfara State Police Commands, Rufai Ahmed and Yezid Abubakar, respectively, said they were unaware of the incident.
Ahmed subsequently referred enquiries to the police zone spokesperson, Ambrusa, for further clarification.
However, messages sent to the zonal spokesperson seeking confirmation and further details had not received a response as of the time of filing this report.
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