The police command in Zamfara said its operatives killed some bandits in the state on Saturday night as the criminals attempted to attack Magami in Gusau local government area.

The bandits killed two police officers in the Saturday shootout.

The command disclosed this on Sunday in a statement signed by its spokesman, Shehu Mohammed, in Gusau.

“Yesterday night, the command received a report that bandits in their large numbers stormed Magami town in Gusau LGA with intent to attack the community.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Hussaini Rabiu, directed Police Tactical units, comprising of PMF/CTU/Special forces and Operation Puff Adder based in the area to synergise and ensure the protection of lives and property of the people.

“The tactical units moved in courageously and engaged the assailants in a gun duel. As a result of the encounter, the attack was successfully repelled, while an unspecified number of bandits were neutralised, with many of them escaping with possible gunshot wounds,” Mr Shehu said.

He added, “Two of our their operatives paid the supreme price while defending the innocent members of the communities, but there was no loss of life in the communities.”

He also disclosed that the commissioner had further deployed additional tactical operatives to the area to complement ongoing bush-combing operations aimed at forestalling further attacks on nearby villages.

The statement further said, “The CP reiterates his warning to all recalcitrant bandits in the state to either surrender their arms and embrace peace or face the consequences of their actions.

“The CP also urged police operatives in the command to aggressively defend themselves and the community in any engagement with bandits and ensure that they dominate the ungoverned spaces on a continuous basis.”

(NAN)