The Kebbi State Police Command said two police officers lost their lives during a gun duel with bandits suspected to be Lakurawa sect members in Kebbi State on Friday, as they attempted to foil a cattle rustling operation.

This was according to a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday by the command’s spokesman, SP Nafiu Abubakar.

The statement read, “On the 3rd January 2025, at about 0100hrs, armed hoodlums suspected to be Lakurawa bandits on motorcycles invaded Alhaji Lawal Block Farm and nearby Fulani settlements located at Natsini village, along Argungu/Kangiwa road and rustled unspecified number of cows.

“On receipt of the report, a team of Police Safer Highway patrol immediately rushed to the scene, engaged the bandits in a gun duel, pursued them, forcing the bandits to escape into the forest with gunshot wounds and successfully recovered some of the rustled cows.

“Regrettably, two police officers lost their lives during the encounter.”

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Bello Sani, condemned the incident while praying for the souls of the deceased officers to have eternal rest.

He said the CP also paid an on-the-spot assessment visit to the scene, after which he visited the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji  Sama’ila Mera, where he condoled and briefed him on the efforts of combined security agencies towards combating crimes in the area.

In a continuation of his operational tour of Defence Headquarters-led operations, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has visited frontline units under Operation Safe Haven in Kaduna and Plateau states.

Addressing troops at the newly established 2 National Mission Brigade in Samaru Kataf, Kaduna State, and Sector 8 Mangu, Plateau State, General Musa emphasized the need for professionalism in operations. He charged the troops to respect and protect citizens’ human rights while executing their duties. According to the CDS, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) are trained to safeguard lives and property, as well as uphold citizens’ rights.

The CDS urged the troops to intensify their operations against criminal elements, instructing them to take the fight directly to the hideouts of insurgents and flush them out completely. “I want to see renewed and greater vigor in the fight against insurgency as we move into 2025,” he said. General Musa also warned against illegal activities that could tarnish the reputation of the Armed Forces, stressing the importance of teamwork to achieve greater operational success.

Earlier during the visit, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division

Operatives of the Odeda Division of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested Akintoye Waris for allegedly stealing and slaughtering a Savannah he-goat valued at N200,000 for his child’s naming.

The spokesperson for the command, Omolola Odutola, on Saturday, revealed that Waris was arrested on January 2, 2024, in the Odeda Area of the state, along with his accomplice, Ajayi Yusuf.

The suspects had allegedly invaded a farm in the area to steal the goat, having ensured that the farm owner, simply known as Mark, had taken the cattle for grazing on December 25.

Odutola stated that after discovering one of the goats was missing upon his return, a search was conducted in the community.

During the search, the police said some villagers confirmed seeing the two suspects with the missing goat on a motorcycle, heading toward Olodo town.

The command noted that while acting on the tip-off, detectives were immediately dispatched, leading to the arrest of the suspects in the early hours of January 2, 2025.

Odutola stated, “During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime, explaining how they stole, transported, and later slaughtered the he-goat on December 27, 2024.

“They disclosed that the goat was used to prepare food for the naming ceremony of Akintoye Warris’s daughter, which was held at Olodo.

“The suspects are currently in custody and undergoing further investigation at the Divisional Crime Branch.”

She assured the concerned residents that the suspects would be prosecuted in court once the investigation is concluded and added that any further developments in the case would be communicated in due course.