According to preliminary reports, the attackers intercepted the Zamfara State mass transit conveying the police personnel and opened fire at close range, leading to the instant death of the officers. The vehicle was said to have been riddled with bullets during the deadly attack.
The incident, which occurred along the border corridor between Sokoto and Zamfara States, has thrown the entire area into panic as commuters plying the road were forced to scamper for safety.
Sources disclosed that several security personnel lost their lives in the attack, which is believed to have been carried out by bandits who have been terrorising communities in the North-West region.
The Sokoto-Zamfara highway has become a hotspot for banditry and kidnapping in recent months, with security operatives often targeted by the criminal elements operating in the forest axis.
This latest ambush once again highlights the worsening insecurity situation in Zamfara, where communities and security agencies have continued to suffer heavy losses in the hands of armed groups.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Zamfara State Police Command or the Sokoto State Police Command regarding the incident, while efforts to reach the police public relations officers proved abortive.
Security has however been beefed up along the route as authorities move to prevent further attacks.
