The security situation in Zamfara State was heightened during the week when eight officers and men of the Nigeria Police force were killed during a clash with bandits in the Northern state.
The deceased officers were members of the anti-riot police who participated in a police joint operation against bandits in Zamfara state in Thursday during which about 104 bandits were killed.
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Asides from the casualties sustained by the Nigeria Police, two officers remain missing as a result of the clash.
The missing officers were drafted from the Police Mobile Force Squadron 4 in Ibadan, Oyo State, and took part in the operation against the bandits at Birnin Mogaji Village, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood had earlier claimed that only one police officer was killed in action during the clash.
According to police sources, the high casualty among police officers prompted the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to dispatch the DIG Operations, Joshiak Habila, to Zamfara State to coordinate the operation.
“Over 100 bandits were killed during the operation, but we lost eight MOPOL officers while two are missing. Normally, during such operations, it is not unusual for us to have casualties, but the cheering news is that we were able to decimate the bandits.” The source said.
According to the Punch Newspapers, the police hierarchy downplayed police casualties and quickly deployed DIG Habila to Zamfara on Thursday night with additional Special Forces’ personnel, Counter-Terrorism Units, Police Mobile Force, Federal Anti-Robbery Squads and three surveillance helicopters.
According to Punch;
“Though the police had an upper hand during the encounter with the bandits, the leadership lied about the police casualties.
If it was only a policeman that lost his life and normalcy had been restored in the area as claimed, why did they (leaders) send a DIG with additional operatives and equipment to the scene?”
Jimoh, however, denied the loss of eight policemen, stating that only one operative died while 12 were injured.
“I have just spoken to the CP (commissioner of police) and the DIG and they said only one policeman died and 12 were injured. Two or three officers, who were missing, have been found, and we are still patrolling the general area,” he said
The police had reported that the police joint operations team destroyed 50 criminal hideouts in Zurmi LGA and recovered 500 cattle and 79 sheep during the operation.
According to the police, over 85 suspects have been arrested with weapons recovered including 27 AKN 47 rifles and 52 locally fabricated guns since operations started on November 9.