An officer of the Katsina State Police Command and two others have been killed following a bandit attack in Matazu Local Government Area of the state, the command has confirmed.
Abubakar Sadiq, the state police spokesman, confirmed the attack, saying that police in the area also foiled further assault.
According to him, on April 5, 2026, suspected armed bandits in large numbers, armed with dangerous weapons, blocked the Karadua–Musawa Road in Matazu Local Government Area, where they opened fire on an oncoming Volkswagen Golf vehicle, fatally shooting two persons.
Upon receiving the report, he explained, a joint team of operatives comprising the police, military, Katsina State Community Watch Corps, and local vigilantes swiftly mobilised to the scene, dislodged the assailants, and evacuated the victims to a nearby hospital.
He further explained that the bandits subsequently regrouped and attempted to attack the Musawa Police Division, stressing that the officers on duty repelled the attack, successfully foiling their attempt and restoring normalcy to the area.
Regrettably, one police officer lost his life in the line of duty during the encounter.
The command spokesman stated that the Commissioner of Police, Ali Fage, has deployed additional operational assets to the area to strengthen security and prevent further attacks, and that an investigation has commenced to apprehend the perpetrators.
Sadiq assured that further developments would be communicated in due course.
