Armed bandits attack police outpost in Kebbi, cart away weapons

A heavily armed group of bandits launched a brazen attack on a mobile police outpost in Makuku village, located in Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State, making away with multiple firearms and setting a police patrol truck ablaze.

The Kebbi State Government confirmed the incident, which occurred on Thursday, describing it as a well-coordinated assault on a temporary security base manned by mobile police personnel.

Speaking to journalists in Bagudo on Saturday, Abdulrahman Zagga, Director of Security at the Kebbi State Cabinet Office, revealed that the attackers are suspected to have crossed into the state from neighboring Zamfara and Niger States—both of which have long grappled with armed banditry and cross-border criminal activity.

Zagga disclosed that the gunmen engaged the police in intense gunfire, overpowering the officers and looting weapons before torching the patrol vehicle and fleeing the scene.

“Our men fought back but had to retreat due to the overwhelming number of the bandits. They burnt a Toyota Hilux patrol vehicle and made away with several rifles,” Zagga said.

He clarified that contrary to initial reports, the site attacked was not a permanent police station but a mobile unit, making it more susceptible to such an ambush.

Following the incident, Zagga said the state government sought immediate support from the Nigerian Air Force. Their swift deployment forced the assailants to scatter into nearby forests.

Despite the scale of the attack, Zagga confirmed that no casualties were reported.

He linked the recurring violence in the area to its geographical proximity to volatile regions in Zamfara and Niger.

“We have refused to enter into any peace accord with bandits. We believe in confronting them through legitimate security operations,” he stated.

Zagga also raised concerns about local informants aiding the attackers, especially during the farming season when rural communities become vulnerable to extortion.
“They extort money from one community, disappear briefly, and then reappear to attack another when funds dry up. This vicious cycle keeps residents in fear,” he added.