Bandits ambush escort troops in Zamfara, kill 5 police officers, 3 soldiers

In a tragic ambush by terrorists in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, five police officers and three soldiers lost their lives on Thursday morning.

The attack occurred as the security personnel were escorting Setraco Nigeria Limited workers when the terrorists opened fire on them, resulting in the loss of eight security operatives.

A military source revealed that a swift response from the Army helped prevent further casualties among the Setraco workers.

A number of the terrorists were killed in the ensuing gun battle, although some managed to escape, seizing weapons from the fallen security officers.

The source called for prayers for their team in Zamfara.

According to him, “troops escorting Setraco workers on their way to Tsafe LGA in Zamfara encountered ambush”.

He said three soldiers and five policemen were killed and rifles were carted away.

“We came swiftly to reinforce and we were able to kill many of the bandits. Police have evacuated the bodies of both the personnel and the bandits,” the source added.

This comes shortly after SaharaReporters reported how some terrorists blocked the busy Gusau-Funtua highway in Zamfara State and abducted an unspecified number of travellers on the road.

This was confirmed to SaharaReporters during a telephone conversation with the State Police Command Spokesman, Yezid Abubakar.

The police spokesperson said the command had deployed several personnel to the scene of the attack and he was yet to be briefed on the exact figure of the people that were kidnapped by the terrorists.

“It is true but we are on top of the matter. Our men have been deployed to the place but they are yet to come back so I don’t know the exact figure of the people that were kidnapped. I will get back to you when I get the information,” the police spokesman told SaharaReporters.