TEN POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN KEBBI BANDIT ATTACK AS NPF LAUNCHES FRESH OPERATION TO HUNT FLEEING ASSAILANTS
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Northern Bureau Chief, Democracy Newsline
August 12, 2026.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed the death of 10 police officers who were killed in the line of duty during a fierce encounter with a heavily armed group of suspected bandits along the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The Police said the officers were killed while responding to a security operation aimed at intercepting suspected bandits moving between Zamfara and Kebbi States, in an incident that has once again highlighted the growing security challenges confronting communities in parts of the North-West.
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According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the confrontation occurred at about 9:25 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026, when police operatives intercepted and engaged the suspected criminal group.
The Force said that 17 suspected bandits were neutralised during the encounter, while four motorcycles allegedly belonging to the attackers were destroyed.
However, the operation came at a heavy cost to the Police, with 10 personnel losing their lives, while two other officers sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.
Two civilians were also reported killed during the engagement.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, describing the fallen personnel as officers who paid the ultimate price in the service of the nation.
The IGP extended his condolences to the families, relatives, colleagues and loved ones of the deceased officers, stressing that their sacrifice in the defence of lives and property would not be forgotten.
According to the Police, the officers died while carrying out their constitutional responsibility of protecting citizens and confronting armed criminal elements.
The IGP assured the bereaved families that the Nigeria Police Force would continue to support them and honour the memory of the fallen officers.
The remains of the deceased officers have reportedly been conveyed to Birnin Kebbi, while the Police said the immediate area of the confrontation has been brought under control.
Following the attack, additional security personnel have been deployed to the area as part of efforts to prevent further attacks and track down members of the criminal group who reportedly fled following the encounter.
The Police said the reinforced operation is aimed at pursuing the fleeing suspects and bringing those responsible for the attack to justice.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over the security situation in parts of Kebbi State, particularly rural communities located close to the state’s borders with other North-West states.
The movement of armed criminal groups across state boundaries has continued to present a complex challenge to security agencies, as criminals can exploit difficult terrain, vast rural areas and porous routes to evade security operations.
Security analysts have repeatedly stressed the importance of stronger intelligence-sharing and coordinated operations among security agencies and neighbouring states in tackling banditry and other forms of violent crime in the region.
For residents of communities such as those around Sakaba, however, the immediate concern remains the protection of lives, farmland, homes and livelihoods.
The death of 10 police personnel in a single engagement also underscores the risks faced by security officers operating in remote and vulnerable communities.
The Nigeria Police Force said it remains conscious of the enormous grief suffered by the families of the deceased officers.
The Force pledged to provide necessary support to the bereaved families as well as the injured personnel, while continuing its operations against the fleeing members of the criminal group.
The Police also reaffirmed its determination to sustain operations in the affected area until the security situation is stabilised and the perpetrators are brought to justice.
The Rafin Makuku incident represents another costly confrontation in the continuing battle against armed criminal groups in Nigeria’s North-West.
While the Police reported that 17 suspected bandits were neutralised, the loss of 10 officers and two civilians demonstrates the human cost of insecurity and the dangers faced by communities and security personnel alike.
The latest development is therefore expected to increase calls for intensified intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency cooperation, improved operational support for security personnel and greater protection for vulnerable communities across Kebbi and neighbouring states.
For the people of Sakaba and the wider Kebbi community, the immediate hope is that the reinforced security operation will prevent further attacks and restore confidence among residents who depend heavily on farming and other rural economic activities for their livelihoods.
As the Police continue their pursuit of the fleeing suspects, the deaths of the 10 officers have left the Force and their families mourning personnel who lost their lives while carrying out their duty.
The Nigeria Police Force has vowed that their sacrifice will continue to be remembered as part of the service’s ongoing commitment to protecting Nigerians and confronting violent criminal groups across the country.
CSP Ani Iniedu, anipr
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Abuja
August 11, 2026.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER 12TH AUGUST, 2026)
