- Safiu Kehinde
No fewer than 10 police officers have been confirmed dead in an attack on a police camp at Makuku in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State by suspected bandits
This was made known in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu.
According to Iniedu, the camp occupied by personnel of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) Platoon 2 and Police Mobile Force (PMF) 48 came under attack by the armed bandits on Monday.
While the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, recorded success by neutralising a total of 17 out of the over 200 bandits, the force equally recorded casualties as 10 of its personnel paid the ultimate price during the fire exchange.
‘The Nigeria Police Force confirms that on Monday, 10th August 2026, at about 0600hrs, a large group of armed bandits, numbering over 200 and riding on motorcycles, attacked a security
‘On receipt of the distress call, the Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, immediately mobilised and deployed reinforcements, which were further supported by units of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force drawn from within Kebbi and Katsina States.
‘A fierce exchange of gunfire lasting over two hours ensued between security forces and the attackers.
‘In the course of the operation, the Force sadly lost ten (10) personnel in the line of duty, while one vigilante member and two civilians also lost their lives in the attack.
‘The bandits suffered significant losses during the engagement, with at least seventeen (17) attackers believed to have been neutralised and several of their motorcycles destroyed by security forces before they fled the area, with surviving accomplices observed conveying the bodies away on motorcycles as they retreated. ‘ Iniedu wrote.
The remains of the fallen officers, according to the police spokesperson, have been recovered and deposited at a mortuary in Birnin Kebbi.
The police said the next of kin to the deceased officers have been duly notified while further personal details are being withheld out of respect for the families at this time.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, commended the gallantry and sacrifice of the officers who repelled the attack and directed the immediate reinforcement of security architecture across Sakaba LGA and neighbouring communities to forestall further attacks.
The Nigeria Police Force extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the officers, the vigilante member, and the civilians who lost their lives, and assures them of full welfare support in line with Force policy.
It however urged members of the public to remain calm and to continue supporting security agencies with credible information.