Ten Nigerian police officers were killed in a gunbattle with rebels on Monday in the Sakaba council area of Kebbi state, authorities reported Tuesday. The clash also resulted in the deaths of 17 rebels and two civilians.
According to police spokesperson Bashir Usman, the rebels were heavily armed and traveling on motorcycles when security forces intercepted them near the border with Zamfara state. Zamfara is known as a concentration point for armed gangs that frequently conduct raids on Nigerian towns and villages.
Usman stated that in addition to the 10 officers killed, two others sustained injuries and are receiving medical attention. This incident is the latest in a series of violent events in Nigeria, where armed groups often compete for territory and control over natural resources. These gangs frequently outnumber the nation's security forces, which are described as overstretched. Dozens have been killed in recent weeks across the country's northern regions, with security forces often being targets. The U.S. government provides military support to Nigeria under an agreement aimed at protecting Christians, though this assistance is largely confined to logistics and intelligence gathering related to the ongoing violence in the north.