Two officers of Katsina State Police Command have been killed by bandits in Baure village of Safana Local Government Area of the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba, who disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists at the force headquarters in Katsina, said the police officers lost their lives in a gun duel with the hooligans Thursday.

He said Yakubu Joshua, attached to 27 Police Mobile Force (PMF) Katsina and Zaharadeen Yuguda, attached to Safana Division were killed by the bandits in a crossfire at their enclave in the village (Baure).

Buba explained that the police team, led by the Dutsinma Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Aminu Umar, were able to dislodge the hoodlums, killing two of them in the process and recovered one AK-47 rifle with 35 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition among other items.

He said: “On November 18, 2021 at about 1700hrs, based on credible intelligence, Area Commander, Dutsinma, Aminu Umar, led a combined team of policemen and vigilante to bandits’ hideout at Baure village, Safana LGA of Katsina State and engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel.

“The team succeeded in dislodging the bandits, killed two notorious bandits and recovered one AK 47 rifle with thirty-five (35) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition of AK 47 rifle.

“In the course of scanning the scene, two unregistered motorcycles, Kasea and Boxer, vest of charms were recovered.

“Sadly, two gallant police officers – AP.NO.151332 Asp Yakubu Joshua, attached to 27 Police Mobile Force, (PMF), Katsina and F/NO.264575 Sgt Zaharadeen Yuguda attached to Safana Division, paid the supreme price and died in a crossfire.”

He, however, said despite the incident, police would remain “resolute and committed in the ongoing fight against recalcitrant bandits until they are arrested and dealt with in accordance with extant laws of the land”.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called on the state government to lift the suspension of telecommunications services in the state.

The coalition, in a statement by its Chairman, AbdurRahman Abdullahi, said the lifting of the suspension would enable residents of the frontline local government areas to report bandits’ attack on their communities to security agencies for intervention.

He reiterated that the government needs to assess the progress recorded within the Security Containment Order period and look into the possibility of reviewing and amending it for “better results”.

He said: “Within the first two weeks of the Security Containment order, there was no report of attack throughout the state. But gradually, the activities of bandits began to return with more victims than before.

“This means the bandits have found ways for defying these measures and continue with their nefarious activities. Most of the people are complaining about suspension of telecommunications services as the reason for the rising cases of banditry in the affected LGAs.

“Bandits can now come to a community and do their operations for hours without the intervention of security personnel or vigilantes because there is no way they can be called for assistance.”

Thisday