The Zamfara State Police Command has reported the killing of 17 suspected bandits following a gun battle with security operatives after the criminals attacked motorists along the Gusau-Funtua Federal Highway in Tsafe Local Government Area.
The incident occurred on Tuesday near Unguwar Chida Village, where the bandits reportedly blocked the highway and attacked two commercial vehicles, leaving several passengers dead and others injured.
The attackers also abducted eight passengers during the incident, according to the police.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the vehicles intercepted by the bandits included a Sharon vehicle travelling from Sokoto to Gwagwalada and a Sokoto State Transport Authority bus heading towards Kaduna and Abuja.
The police explained that the Sharon vehicle’s driver was shot dead, causing the vehicle to somersault. Six passengers inside the vehicle were also killed.
Similarly, a male passenger aboard the SSTA bus was killed, while nine other occupants sustained gunshot wounds.
The command said the abducted passengers were taken to an undisclosed location, as security agencies intensified efforts to locate and rescue them.
Following a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer in Tsafe reportedly mobilised the Police Violence Crime Response Unit to the scene.
The injured victims were subsequently taken to the General Hospital, Tsafe, for medical attention, while the remains of those killed were deposited at the hospital mortuary.
The police further disclosed that the bandits later attacked Magazu Village in the same local government area.
During the attack, a 35-year-old resident, Lawali Muazu, was struck by a stray bullet and subsequently taken to the General Hospital for treatment.
According to the command, security operatives later tracked the bandits to the Funtua-Gusau Federal Highway while the group was allegedly attempting to intercept and loot a trailer loaded with food items.
The police said the bandits opened fire after sighting the security forces, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
The security personnel eventually overpowered the attackers, killing 17 of them, while others reportedly fled the scene with gunshot wounds.
The command said a joint security arrangement comprising the police, military, Community Protection Guards, hunters and local vigilantes had been deployed along the highway and other vulnerable locations to prevent further attacks.
It added that clearance operations were ongoing around suspected bandit camps and routes believed to be used by the criminals.
Efforts are also continuing to locate and rescue the eight passengers abducted during the highway attack.
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