A midday patrol along the rural Guga–Bakori road in Katsina State turned deadly, highlighting the persistent dangers faced by security personnel in bandit-prone corridors of the North-West.
Four police officers were killed and two injured when suspected armed bandits ambushed the 27 Police Mobile Force (PMF) team from Guga Camp during a routine patrol at around 12:45 p.m. The patrol vehicle veered off the road after intense gunfire, exposing officers to further attack.
Three officers died on the scene—ASP Abubakar Abdullahi, Insp. Umar Ahmed, and Sgt. Kailani Kabir—while a fourth succumbed to injuries later. The attackers also carted away service weapons, including an AK-47 with 30 rounds, a Tokarev pistol with eight rounds, and a long-range rifle.
Two other officers, Cpl. Daniel Japet and Cpl. Abdulaziz Sani, survived but sustained serious injuries and were evacuated to Funtua General Hospital. Joint police teams and Operation FANSAN YANMA troops have secured the area, conducting cordon-and-search operations to apprehend the attackers and recover the stolen weapons.
The ambush reflects growing volatility along Katsina’s roads and the evolving tactics of armed groups targeting law enforcement.
