Bandits kill five policemen, three guards in Zamfara

Bandits have killed five policemen and three Community Protection Guards during a patrol along the Gusau–Funtua Road in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

An indigene of the area, Ya’u Musa, said that the security personnel were ambushed on Thursday evening near Gidan-Giye village, a few kilometres from Tsafe town, the headquarters of the local government area.

According to him, the bandits, who were hiding in the bush, suddenly opened fire on the patrol vehicle, killing all eight occupants on the spot.

“The affected securitymen were working at the Government House, Gusau, and had been sent on special duty to provide protection for travellers along the Gusau–Funtua Road because of persistent attacks by bandits,” Musa said.

Unfortunately, a few minutes after they left Tsafe town, we heard gunshots near Gidan-Giye. The bandits opened fire, killing all of them instantly. Within moments, they rode off on their motorcycles into the forest, leaving the eight securitymen dead.”

Musa added that the remains of the deceased were later taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau.

Reacting to the incident, Governor Dauda Lawal expressed grief and extended condolences to the families of the slain officers.

In a post on his official Facebook page, the governor wrote, “To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.

I just received the sad news of the death of eight security personnel, comprising policemen and Community Protection Guards, who were ambushed and killed by bandits along the Gusau–Funtua Road.

“May Allah forgive them and grant their families the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. We continue to pray for an end to the insecurity plaguing Zamfara State, the North, and Nigeria as a whole.