Police tactical operatives in Zamfara say they have killed a bandit and seized an AK-47 rifle and 18 rounds of live ammunition during a gun battle in Saran Gamawa and Anguwar Mata villages in Gummi local government area.

In a statement on Monday, police spokesperson Muhammad Shehu said vigilantes also collaborated with the police in the gun battle that lasted four hours.

“On 19th June 2022, police tactical operatives deployed along Gummi/Bukkuyum axis received a distress call that armed bandit terrorists on motorcycles invaded Saran Gamawa and neighbouring Unguwar Mata villages with intent to kill and abduct innocent members of the communities,” said the police statement.

It added, “The police, in collaboration with the vigilante of the affected villages, mobilised forces and engaged the terrorists in an extensive gun battle that lasted for hours. As a result, one of the terrorists was fatally injured, an Ak-47 rifle belonging to the bandits was recovered at the scene, while many others retreated to the forest with possible various degrees of gunshot wounds.”

Police commissioner Ayuba Elkanah commended the resilience of the joint operatives and charged them not to relent in the command’s effort to safeguard the lives and property of people in Zamfara.

Mr Elkanah also directed area commander Anka and the neighbouring DPOs to deploy reinforcement teams to complement the ongoing confidence-building patrol to avert further attacks on nearby communities.

He said the deployment was also to rescue the two victims already abducted by the assailants before the police arrived.

“While reassuring the command’s commitment to the protection of lives and property in the state, he called on members of the public to cooperate with the police and other security agencies in the effort to rid the state of bandits,” the statement added.

(NAN)