Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A devastating attack unfolded in the remote reaches of Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Monday, August 10, 2026, when a heavily armed group of about 240 bandits on more than 200 motorcycles descended upon a mobile police checkpoint, killing 10 officers of the 44 Police Mobile Force and two civilians in a fierce gun battle that has sent shockwaves through the nation's security establishment. The attackers, who had moved in three formations from the Sangeko Gap area of Dansadau District in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, spent the night in a forest between Kakihum and Makuku before heading towards Maburya on Monday morning. According to a police situation report, information available to the command at about 7:40 p.m. indicated that the armed bandits had killed the personnel following the gun duel between the Mobile Police Force and the attackers.
The slain officers, all attached to the 44 Police Mobile Force, Abuja, and serving on special duty in the area, were identified as ASP Bala Buba, 43; Inspector Saminu Sulaiman, 40; Inspector Solomon Jatau, 39; Inspector Ayuba Hassain, 38; Inspector Umar Yahuza, 37; Inspector Auwal Sani, 38; Sergeant Jimoh Momo, 35; Corporal Ukpong Otrukmj, 34; Inspector Adamu Abdullahi, 35; and Inspector Abdullahi Magaji, 43. The two civilians killed in the attack were identified as Mohammadu Magwawara, 50, and Muhammadu Tiritiri, 45. Another civilian, Shehu Abubakar, 41, sustained serious gunshot injuries during the incident and was referred to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, for further medical treatment. The bodies of the deceased were evacuated to the General Hospital, Dirin Daji, where they were confirmed dead.
A resident of Makuku, Malam Musa Sani, told reporters that the bandits encountered the mobile police checkpoint while trying to enter the community and overpowered the officers. "The bandits killed 10 mobile policemen and two civilians and carted away their rifles," he alleged. The attackers reportedly seized a significant quantity of firearms and ammunition, including one RPG rifle, two riot guns, and 10 AK-47 rifles. Following the incident, a team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer of Sakaba Division, DSP Umaru Bagudu, visited the scene and discovered the bodies of the slain officers lying at the Makuku area.
The spokesperson for the Kebbi State Police Command, DSP Bashir Usman, confirmed the attack and said 17 suspected bandits had so far been neutralised. "This morning, our men intercepted and engaged a heavily armed group of suspected bandits moving between Zamfara and Kebbi States along the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area," he said. Usman said four motorcycles belonging to the attackers were also burnt during the operation, noting that the casualty figures were still being verified. "Tragically, we lost 10 gallant police personnel in the engagement, while two others sustained injuries and are receiving medical attention. Two civilians also lost their lives during the encounter," he said. He described the officers who died as brave personnel who fought with courage and professionalism while carrying out their duties.
The attack on the police checkpoint in Sakaba Local Government Area underscores the growing threat posed by large-scale bandit movements along the Zamfara-Kebbi border. The bandits, who had reportedly crossed from Zamfara State, were moving in a highly coordinated column of over 200 motorcycles, suggesting a planned operation rather than a spontaneous raid. The Sangeko Gap, from which they emerged, has long been identified as a strategic corridor for criminal movements between the two states. The area's dense forests and porous borders have made it a favoured route for bandits seeking to evade security forces and launch attacks on communities in both states.
The police spokesperson said the command would focus on supporting the families of the officers who died, treating those injured and continuing operations to track down the fleeing suspects. However, the attack has raised urgent questions about the capacity of security forces to respond to such large-scale incursions. The loss of 10 mobile police officers in a single engagement represents one of the heaviest casualties suffered by the Nigeria Police Force in recent years, and the seizure of an RPG rifle and 10 AK-47s by the bandits is a significant blow to the operational capability of the security forces in the region.
The incident has drawn condolences from across the country, with many Nigerians expressing grief over the loss of the gallant officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. The Kebbi State Government has yet to issue an official statement, but the attack is expected to heighten calls for more robust security measures along the Zamfara-Kebbi border, where bandit incursions have become increasingly frequent. The question that now hangs over the Rafin Makuku axis is whether the security forces can prevent future attacks of this scale, or whether the bandits will continue to exploit the region's porous borders to launch devastating assaults on vulnerable communities and security personnel.
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