January 28, (THEWILL) — The Katsina State Police Command has confirmed the death of three officers following a violent ambush by suspected bandits along the Guga–Bakori axis of the state.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at approximately 12:44 p.m. while the officers were on a routine anti-crime patrol. According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the patrol team came under heavy, sporadic gunfire from armed hoodlums positioned in the area.
The deceased officers have been identified as ASP Abubakar Ibrahim, Inspector Umar Ahmad, and Sergeant Khailani Kabir. Two other members of the team, Corporal Abdul’aziz Sani and Corporal Daniel Japhet, sustained gunshot injuries during the encounter and were rushed to a general hospital in the Funtua local government area for urgent medical attention.
“The officers responded bravely and repelled the attackers, but three of them paid the supreme price,” Aliyu stated.
He added that the Command has launched a comprehensive investigation and a manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators.
Bakori Local Government Area has remained a flashpoint for insecurity in Katsina, with frequent reports of bandits mounting illegal roadblocks to dispossess travelers of their belongings.
Residents in the Guga and Lailai communities expressed renewed fears on Wednesday, noting that the ambush occurred despite recent “community-based peace efforts” involving the state government.
The Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar Musa, while commending the gallantry of the fallen officers, reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to restore order and urged residents to continue providing timely information to aid security operations in the state’s most vulnerable corridors.
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