Five Nigerian police officers have been killed in an ambush by suspected bandits in the northern state of Bauchi, police say.
The attack took place on Saturday in Sabon Sara village, Darazo local government area, as a joint tactical team was conducting a patrol to prevent clashes between farmers and herders.
A police spokesperson said the officers drawn from the Rapid Response Squad, Police Mobile Force, Anti-Kidnapping Unit and State Intelligence Department came under heavy fire from a group described as “unidentified Fulani youths”.
Five officers died at the scene or shortly afterwards. They have been named as Ahmad Muhammad, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mustapha Muhammad, Inspector Amarhel Yunusa, Inspector Idris Ahmed and Corporal Isah Muazu.
Two other officers, Inspector Isah Musa and Inspector Yusuf Gambo, were wounded and are receiving treatment. Reinforcements led by the local divisional police officer later arrived, recovered the bodies and evacuated the injured to Darazo General Hospital.
Police said several of the attackers were “neutralised” during the exchange of fire.Bauchi State has seen repeated violence linked to farmer-herder disputes and banditry in recent years.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a review of security arrangements following a series of deadly attacks on security personnel across northern Nigeria.