A senior police officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Bala Wakili, has been killed in a deadly ambush by suspected bandits in Sokoto State following a fierce gun battle that lasted for over an hour.
According to security sources, the incident occurred when a joint security team comprising personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Sokoto Community Guard Corps launched an operation against armed bandits around Zugu village.
The operatives had reportedly laid an ambush for the criminals as they were leaving the community after carrying out their activities. However, the mission turned into a prolonged gun duel as the bandits, who were said to be heavily armed and in large numbers, engaged the security team in a fierce exchange of gunfire.
A source familiar with the operation disclosed that despite the resistance put up by the security personnel, the attackers eventually overwhelmed the team.
“The security operatives engaged the bandits in a fierce exchange of fire, but the attackers were in large numbers. They eventually overpowered the team, killed ASP Bala Wakili and set ablaze two patrol vehicles — one belonging to the police and the other to the Sokoto Community Guard Corps,” the source said.
Another security operative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the body of the slain officer was recovered from the scene and buried on Tuesday in accordance with Islamic rites.
Confirming the attack, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said the command lost one of its officers who “paid the supreme price” while defending the state against criminal elements.
Rufa’i disclosed that additional security personnel had been deployed to the affected communities to reinforce ongoing operations and reassure residents of their safety.
He added that security agencies had already launched a manhunt for the fleeing attackers, stressing that efforts were underway to apprehend those responsible and prevent further attacks in the area.
The latest incident highlights the persistent security challenges facing parts of Sokoto State, where security forces continue to battle armed bandits responsible for attacks on communities, abductions, and the destruction of property.
