Dozens killed in firefight between armed group and police in Nigeria's Kebbi State
At least 29 people were killed in a firefight between police and a heavily armed group in Nigeria's Kebbi State, according to police. The clash took place on Monday as the group was travelling from Zamfara State to Kebbi State. Police said the group numbered around 240 men and was moving on more than 200 motorcycles.
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Police spokesman Bashir Usman said officers confronted the group and lost 10 personnel in the engagement. Two other officers were injured and are receiving medical treatment, he said. Police also said 17 suspected bandits and two civilians were killed, although the final figures are still being assessed.
The incident adds to long-running insecurity in northwestern Nigeria, where armed gangs have carried out cattle rustling and kidnappings for ransom for years. Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states have all been affected by violence linked to these groups. Police did not say whether any arrests were made or whether the armed men were part of a wider operation.
The scale of the confrontation is significant because it involved a large, mobile armed group crossing between two states in a region already under pressure from bandit attacks. The deaths of police officers also underline the risks faced by security forces in areas where armed groups can move quickly on motorcycles and operate across state lines. The violence may also affect local movement and security planning in neighbouring areas.
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Northwestern Nigeria has seen repeated attacks in recent years, including deadly raids on villages and mass kidnappings. A report published by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in March said more than half a million people had been displaced by violence in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara. Last month, at least 20 people were killed in attacks on villages in Zamfara, showing that the security situation remains volatile.
What remains unclear is whether the final casualty count will change as police continue assessing the incident. It is also not known whether the armed group was part of a broader movement or whether further operations are under way. The key question now is whether authorities can prevent similar cross-state movements by armed groups in the region.
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