LAGOS – Thirteen mobile Police detectives attached to the Zamfara State Command were killed by a group of dare devil bandits in ambush.

Though, the bandits also suffered unknown number of casualty during the gun duel, “but several other members of our securitymen are now in the hospital, receiving treatment on bullet wounds”.

Authoritative source revealed that the policemen were responding to a distress call concerning attempt by the bandits to attack some communities in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

“The mobile police men were reportedly deployed to Kurar Mota Village in Bungudu Local Government Area and were on their way to forestall the planned attacks in some nearby communities when they unexpectedly ran into the bandits who had laid ambush ostensibly in wait for them”, Source revealed.

According to him, “It is suspected that some information may have been squealed to the bandits about the coming of the mobile policemen, hence they took the police unaware”.

The bandits were said to have launched the attack on the mobile men at about 12.30pm and this resulted in a fierce gun duel during which thirteen of the police men were killed. The bandits also suffered some casualties.

Commenting on the incident, Zamfara State Police spokesman Mohammed Shehu; a Superintendent of Police said “the personnel who ran into the ambush exhibited resilience and gallantry by engaging the hoodlums,

“An effort that deterred the bandits from attacking the communities they had intended to over run. Unfortunately, 13 personnel paid the supreme price. However, the bandits on their part suffered heavy casualties.”

He added that “a special Anti – Banditry Operation is currently ongoing with a view to tracking down the assailants.”

According to the spokesman, the Commissioner of Police Hussaini Rabiu, while visiting the injured Police men at the hospital same Sunday reaffirmed that, “today’s unfortunate incident will not discourage the officers and men of the command from discharging their mandate of protecting lives and properties of the citizens.”

He called on every law abiding citizen to join hands with the security agencies to successfully end the menace.