Two police officers were killed Friday in Kebbi State following a gunfight with bandits who were allegedly members of the Lakurawa sect when they were trying to stop a livestock rustling operation, according to the Kebbi State Police Command.
This was in accordance with a statement that SP Nafiu Abubakar, the command spokesperson, provided to reporters on Saturday.
“Armed thugs suspected of being Lakurawa bandits on motorcycles invaded Alhaji Lawal Block Farm and nearby Fulani settlements located at Natsini village, along Argungu/Kangiwa road, at approximately 0100 hours on January 3, 2025, and rustled an unknown number of cows,” the statement said.
Following the complaint, a squad of police from the Safer Highway patrol raced to the location, engaged the bandits in a gunfight, and chased them until they fled into the forest, where they were shot and some of the rustled cows were safely retrieved.
“Sadly, the encounter resulted in the deaths of two police officers.”
Bello Sani, the state commissioner of police, meanwhile, denounced the event and prayed for the officers’ souls to rest in peace forever.
According to him, the CP also made an on-the-spot assessment visit to the scene. Following that, he paid a visit to Alhaji Sama’ila Mera, the Emir of Argungu, to offer condolences and to inform him of the joint security forces’ efforts to combat local crime.