Senior
police officers have told Premium Times that the ambush on a police team in
Zamfara State on Thursday ended with the loss of dozens of police officers.
The account, which was also corroborated by
civilian sources near the scene of the incident in Zurmi Local Government Area,
contradicted an official account provided by the police on the attack Friday
afternoon.
Police spokesperson Jimoh Moshood said in Abuja
Friday afternoon that officers repelled the ambush, killing 104 bandits
in the process. He also said 50 hideouts used by the bandits
were razed by officers, and stolen cattle and sheep were recovered.
Birnin Mogaji, an agrarian community where Mr
Moshood said the incident occurred at about 4:00 p.m., and surrounding
communities, has become a regular target of bandits who have been undertaking a
series of robberies in the state in recent years. The bandits often target
herders for their livestock, farms for their produce and even kidnap persons
for humongous ransom.
Mr Moshood, an acting deputy police
commissioner, said normal activities have been restored to the communities as
of Friday afternoon. He also said Habila Joshak, the deputy inspector-general
in charge of operations, had been dispatched to oversee police operations in
the troubled state.
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