A police officer and two civilians were killed in a clash between security operatives and suspected bandits along the Karadua–Musawa Road in Matazu Local Government Area, the Katsina police command said.

The incident occurred on Sunday when bandits reportedly blocked the road and opened fire on a moving Volkswagen Golf vehicle, killing two occupants on the spot.

According to a statement in Katsina on Monday by the command spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, security operatives responded swiftly to the attack.

He said a joint team comprising police personnel, military operatives, members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and local vigilantes was mobilised to the scene following a distress report.

“The team swiftly dislodged the assailants and evacuated the victims to a nearby hospital,” he said.

According to Mr Sadiq-Aliyu, the bandits later regrouped and attempted to launch another attack on the Musawa Police Division.

He said that officers on duty successfully repelled the assault after a fierce gun battle, preventing the attackers from overrunning the facility.

He explained that during the encounter, one police officer was killed while defending the station.

The commissioner of police, Ali Umar-Fage, said that additional operational assets had been deployed to the affected area to strengthen security and forestall further attacks.

The commissioner also ordered a full-scale investigation to track down and arrest the perpetrators.

Mr Umar-Fage expressed condolences to the families of the slain civilians and the fallen officer, describing the latter as a hero who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

He urged residents to remain calm and continue to support security agencies with credible information as efforts intensify to bring those responsible to justice.

(NAN)