Suspected armed bandits have ambushed a police convoy, killing two officers and making away with their rifles in Katsina State.
According to an X post shared by security analyst, Zagagola Magama, on Wednesday, the attack occurred in Sabon Garin Garu village, located in Musawa Local Government Area.
The assailants, believed to be linked to a notorious bandit leader known as Muhammadu, struck as a team of Police Mobile Force operatives were travelling through the area.
The convoy, consisting of five personnel from the 27 PMF unit, was reportedly en route from Zamfara State when it was ambushed by hundreds of heavily armed attackers riding approximately 30 motorcycles.
A fierce gun battle ensued after police tactical teams, supported by patrol units and local vigilante groups, responded swiftly to the distress call.
The coordinated counterattack forced the bandits to retreat into nearby terrain.
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Despite the successful rescue of three officers who escaped unhurt, two personnel were identified as Sgt. Bilyaminu Babangida and PC Abdulaziz Musa lost their lives in the ambush.
It was gathered that the attackers fled the scene with the slain officers’ service rifles and a riot gun, raising further concerns about the proliferation of weapons among criminal groups in the region.
In response, security forces launched a large-scale operation involving reinforcements from nearby areas including Dutsinma, Kankia, Matazu, and Kankara. Authorities have since initiated cordon-and-search efforts aimed at tracking down the perpetrators and recovering the stolen arms.
Security officials say measures have been intensified to restore calm in the affected communities and prevent further attacks along the Musawa axis, which has witnessed repeated security challenges in recent years.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns over banditry in northwestern Nigeria, where armed groups continue to target both civilians and security personnel.