At least eight security personnel were killed when gunmen ambushed a police convoy in Zamfara State on Tuesday, according to local vigilante officials, in another attack in a region plagued by kidnappings and armed violence.
The victims comprised five police officers and three members of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (CPG), a state-backed vigilante group that supports security operations, said CPG commandant Lawal Haruna.
Abubakar Isa, a member of the group, said the attackers struck near Gidan-Giye village in Tsafe Local Government Area. They opened fire on a 15-seater bus carrying the security team, leaving the vehicle destroyed.
In a statement, the police said officers later recovered the bodies of five policemen, rescued seven other personnel and evacuated two wounded officers for medical attention.
The attackers reportedly made away with five AK-47 rifles during the assault.
A police officer told reporters that some members of the security team were abducted and taken to an undisclosed location. However, authorities have not confirmed how many personnel remain in captivity.
