Ten police officers who lost their lives while confronting suspected bandits in Kebbi State have been honoured by the Nigeria Police Force.
The officers were killed on August 10, 2026, during a fierce gun battle along the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area, near the Kebbi-Zamfara border.
According to the Nigeria Police Force, its operatives intercepted a heavily armed group of suspected bandits moving between Kebbi and Zamfara states. At least 17 suspected bandits were also killed in the encounter, while four motorcycles belonging to the attackers were destroyed. Two other police officers sustained injuries.
The identities of the 10 fallen officers were later disclosed as ASP Bala Buba, Inspector Saminu Sulaiman, Inspector Solomon Jatau, Inspector Ayuba Hassain, Inspector Umar Yahuza, Inspector Auwal Sani, Sergeant Jimoh Momo, Corporal Ukpong Otrukmj, Inspector Adamu Abdullahi and Inspector Abdullahi Magaji.
Reports indicate that the officers were members of the 44 Police Mobile Force, Abuja, and were deployed to Kebbi on special duty.
The clash also claimed the lives of two civilians. Police authorities subsequently deployed additional personnel to the area and continued operations against members of the armed group who fled after the encounter.
The fallen officers
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
Inspector Abdullahi Magaji, 43
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, described the deaths as a painful loss to the Force and the nation, saying the officers paid the ultimate price while defending Nigerians.
At a memorial parade held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on August 24, Disu paid tribute to the officers and assured their families that their sacrifices would not be forgotten. The police also pledged to sustain operations against banditry and other violent crimes.
