Reports from Makuku in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State indicate that 10 police officers and two civilians were killed when heavily armed bandits attacked security personnel near Rafin Makuku.
According to reports obtained by The News Chronicle on Wednesday, the attackers were part of a large group estimated at about 240 men riding more than 200 motorcycles. The bandits were said to have entered Kebbi from neighbouring Zamfara State and were heavily armed.
Seventeen of the attackers were reportedly killed during the confrontation with security forces.
Sources also claimed that the bandits succeeded in taking away some weapons belonging to the security personnel who were killed during the attack.
The incident has reportedly left at least 10 families mourning the loss of their loved ones.
The attack has renewed concerns over the worsening security situation in Nigeria’s North-West, where armed groups have increasingly demonstrated the capacity to move across state boundaries in large numbers and confront security forces directly.
Kebbi has experienced similar security challenges in the past, while Zamfara has battled banditry for years. Parts of Katsina, Benue, Plateau, Sokoto and other states have also witnessed deadly attacks by armed groups.
The latest incident in Makuku has further heightened concerns over the growing sophistication, mobility and firepower of bandit groups operating across the region.
