At least eight security personnel have been killed after gunmen attacked a police convoy in Zamfara State on Tuesday.
The victims comprised five police officers and three operatives of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (CPG), according to officials of the state’s vigilance group cited by Reuters.
The CPG is a state-supported security outfit established by Governor Dauda Lawal to tackle banditry, kidnapping and other security threats across the state’s 14 local government areas.
The commandant of the vigilance group, Lawal Haruna, said the outfit operates with the backing of the state government.
A CPG operative, Abubakar Isa, disclosed that the attack took place around Gidan-Giye village in Tsafe Local Government Area.
Isa said the gunmen opened fire on a 15-seater bus transporting the security personnel, leaving the vehicle destroyed.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, confirmed the incident, explaining that tactical search and rescue teams, including operatives of the Violent Crime Response and Anti-Kidnapping units, were deployed to locate and recover the bodies of the deceased officers.
According to Iniedu, the officers were travelling to Zamfara State to provide security during the All Progressives Congress (APC) rerun primary elections when they came under attack.
“The operation successfully rescued seven officers alive and unhurt, while two officers who sustained gunshot wounds were moved to hospital for medical treatment,” the statement reads.
“The hoodlums carted away five service AK-47 rifles; joint reinforcements are combing the area to recover the stolen firearms and apprehend the perpetrators.”
