At least 10 police officers, 17 suspects, and 2 civilians have been killed in clashes with an armed group in northwest Nigeria.
Police said on Tuesday that their forces confronted a group of about 240 gunmen armed with heavy weapons, traveling on more than 200 motorcycles in Kebbi state. Like many states in northwestern and central Nigeria, the region has been plagued by armed criminal gangs specializing in cattle rustling and kidnapping for ransom.
The incident occurred on Monday when the group of suspects was moving from Zamfara state to Kebbi, police spokesman Bashir Usman told AFP.
“Unfortunately, we lost 10 brave police officers in the clash, while two others were injured and are receiving medical treatment,” Usman said.
Two civilians also died in the exchange of fire, and 17 suspects were killed, although the final toll is still being assessed, he added.
Northwest Nigeria has long struggled with insecurity as armed groups carry out kidnappings for ransom and cattle rustling.
Last month, at least 20 people were killed when gunmen attacked villages in Zamfara.
More than half a million people have been displaced by violence in Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states, according to a report released in March by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.
