Five police officers and three Community Protection Guards were slain by bandits while patrolling the Gusau-Funtuwa road in Zamfara State’s Tsafe Local Government Area.
You, Musa, an area resident, told the press that the victims were on patrol along the route on Thursday evening when they were ambushed by robbers.
Musa said, “The victims were approaching Gidan-Giye village, a few kilometers away from Tsafe town, the headquarters of Tsafe Local Government, when suddenly, the bandits came out of their hiding place and opened fire on their vehicle.”
According to Musa, all of the security men in the vehicle were killed instantly.
He emphasized that the bandits could have received information from their informants about the movements of the affected security men, who were said to have come from Government House in Gusau on a special assignment.
He said, “The affected security men were working at the Government House, Gusau, and were sent to give protection to travelers along the Gusau-Funtuwa road due to persistent attacks by bandits on a daily basis.
“Unfortunately, a few minutes after they left Tsafe town, we heard gunshots very close to Gidan-Giye village as the bandits who were hiding beside the road opened fire, killing all of them instantly.
“Within a twinkle of an eye, the bandits rode their motorcycles and ran into the forest, leaving the eight security men dead.”
Musa went on to say that the deceased were brought to the Federal Medical Center in Gusau.
Governor Dauda Lawal has already expressed condolences to the families of the affected security personnel.
Lawal expressed anger at the occurrence on his Facebook page and offered his condolences to the families of the cops involved.
He prayed to Allah to forgive the deceased’s sins and allow their families to bear the irreparable loss.
He said, “To Allah we belong, and to him we shall return.”
“I just received sad news of the death of eight security men, comprising policemen and the Community Protection Guards, who were ambushed and killed by bandits along the Gusau-Funtuwa road.
“May Allah forgive them and give their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“We pray to Allah to bring an end to the insecurity problem affecting Zamfara State, the north, and the entire nation.”