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Nigeria police say 10 officers, 17 suspected bandits killed in clash in Kebbi state

By Thomson Reuters Aug 11, 2026 | 12:46 PM

By Hamza Ibrahim and Ahmed Kingimi

ABUJA, Aug 11 (Reuters) – Ten Nigerian police officers ​were killed and ‌two wounded in a clash with a gang of suspected bandits in northwestern Kebbi ‌state, ​police said ⁠on Tuesday.

• The ⁠clash on Monday is the latest incident in Nigeria’s northwest, where heavily ​armed gangs known locally as bandits frequently ⁠carry out ⁠killings, kidnappings for ransom, ​and cattle theft despite ​security operations.

• Police spokesperson Ani ‌Iniedu said officers killed at least 17 of the attackers after ⁠intercepting the heavily armed group moving between Zamfara and Kebbi states.

• ⁠Iniedu ‌said reinforcements had ⁠been deployed to ​the ‌area, which was ​now under ⁠control, as security forces pursued fleeing suspects.

(Additional reporting by Camillus Eboh; Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo and ​Alison Williams)