No fewer than two policemen have been confirmed dead and dozens of cattles rustled away after members of the new bandit group attacked Natsini village in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The deceased policemen were said to have died while repelling the bandits who had attacked a private farm settlement in the local government.
The spokesperson of the Kebbi police command, SP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the incident in a press statement on Saturday in Birnin Kebbi.
He said: “On Jan. 3, at about 0100hrs, armed hoodlums suspected to be Lakurawa bandits on motorcycles invaded Alhaji Lawal Black Farm and nearby Fulani settlements located at Natsini village, along Argungu/Kangiwa road and rustled unspecified number of cows.
“On receipt of the report, a team of Police Safer Highway patrol immediately rushed to the scene, engaged the bandits in a gun duel, pursued them, forcing the bandits to escape into the forest with gunshot wounds and successfully recovered some of the rustled cows.
“Regrettably, two police officers lost their lives during the encounter.”
Abubakar said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bello Sani, had condemned the unfortunate incident and prayed for the souls of the deceased police officers to have an eternal rest and give their immediate families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“The CP equally paid an on-the-spot assessment visit of the scene, after which he visited the Emir of Argungu, Sama’ila Muhammadu-Mera, where he condoled and briefed him on the efforts of the combined security agencies towards combating crimes in the area,” the PRO said.
