Suspected gunmen on Monday ambushed a vehicle conveying Nigerian police officers along the Sokoto–Zamfara highway, k!lling several personnel in the latest attack highlighting persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West.
The officers were travelling from Sokoto State to Zamfara State for a special duty assignment when the attackers struck. Multiple reports indicate the vehicle involved was a Zamfara State Mass Transit bus, commonly known as Bazamfara.
Video footage circulating online the aftermath of the attack. The white-and-green marked bus has shattered windows, bloodstains on the exterior and interior, and broken glass scattered on the ground. Camouflage-clad individuals are seen around and inside the vehicle. Additional images from the scene show lifeless bodies of officers inside the bus, with some reports noting that hands and legs appeared bound with ropes. Personal belongings were scattered nearby.
One report put the d3ath toll at least five, while others described “several” officers k!lled. Some sources also indicated that a number of personnel may have been abducted. Exact casualty figures and confirmation of survivors remained unclear as of Monday evening, and official police statements providing precise numbers were still pending.
According to sources, the officers were en route to provide security for the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Zamfara North Senatorial District in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.
The Zone 10 Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Ambursa, confirmed the incident occurred but said he was in hospital and would issue a fuller statement later. The Zamfara State Police Command referred inquiries to the zonal command.
The attack has intensified concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the North-West, where armed groups frequently ambush travellers, attack communities, k!ll residents, and abduct people for ransom. Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, and Kaduna states have been particularly affected by such violence in recent years.
As investigations continue, security agencies are expected to provide further updates on the casualties, the circumstances of the ambush, and any response operations.
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