Several police officers are feared dead following an ambush by suspected bandits along the Sokoto–Gusau highway in Zamfara State on Monday.
The officers were reportedly travelling in a Zamfara State-owned mass transit bus, popularly called Bazamfara, when armed assailants launched the attack as they headed towards Gusau, the state capital.
A source familiar with the incident disclosed that some of the officers on board the vehicle were killed during the attack. However, the actual number of fatalities remained unknown as of the time this report was filed.
Sources within the police force revealed that the officers were deployed to provide security for the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Zamfara North Senatorial District, taking place in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.
Further accounts indicated that the attackers not only killed some of the personnel but also took several others hostage during the assault.
Details surrounding the circumstances of the ambush, including the identities of the affected officers and the precise number of casualties, had yet to be established.
Reacting to inquiries about the incident, the Zamfara State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer said the command could not speak on the development because it fell within the jurisdiction of the zonal command.
Meanwhile, the Zone 10 Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Ambursa, confirmed that the incident had occurred. However, he disclosed that he was receiving medical attention at a hospital and was therefore unable to provide further details.
Ambursa, nevertheless, assured that an official statement on the incident would be released at a later time.
