Nigeria: 13 police killed by "bandits" in new attack
A Nigerian soldier stands guard near the Yobe River which separates Nigeria from Niger, not far from Damasak.
(illustrative image) © FLORIAN PLAUCHEUR / AFP
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2 min
Another attack by "bandits" in Nigeria.
Cattle thieves killed thirteen police officers on Sunday (July 18) in Zamfara state, in the northwest of the country.
The
police were
responding to a "
distress call
" from residents about an imminent attack by criminals, when the police were ambushed, according to a spokeswoman for the local police.
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The police patrol was attacked in the village of Kurara Moto, in the district of Bungudu, Sunday, July 18 in the afternoon.
Earlier today, the “bandits”, as kidnappers and cattle thieves are known in this region, had already attacked two other villages.
In the first village, they were repulsed by the police, in the second, they killed a person and looted a few shops, before attacking the 13 police officers, in Kurara Moto, according to witnesses.
It was to prevent an imminent attack by criminals that the police had been deployed.
They did not survive.
A police spokesman announced that searches are underway to try to find the "bandits", known to take shelter in the wooded areas of the Rugu forest which extends notably in the state of Zamfara.
In this region, for the past ten years, criminal groups have terrorized the populations.
Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle condemned the killing of 13 police officers and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice.
So far, no military deployment or agreement with the bandits has helped stem the tide of violence.
The last ambush against the police dates back to last April.
Read also: Northwestern Nigeria hit by another deadly attack
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