Police honour 10 officers who died during gun battle with bandits in Kebbi

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has declared that families of the police officers who lost their lives during a fierce gun battle with bandits in Kebbi recently will never be forgotten.

The IGP made the vow on Monday at the Memorial Parade in honour of the 10 fallen police officers of the Special Intervention Squad at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The officers were killed during an encounter with suspected bandits along the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area, Kebbi State, on Monday, 10th August, 2026.

The operatives were said to have intercepted a heavily armed group of suspected bandits moving between Zamfara and Kebbi states and in the ensuing engagement, they lost their lives while two others sustained injuries. Two civilians also lost their lives.

The IGP noted that the sacrifice of the officers was not in vain as at least 17 of the suspected bandits were neutralised and four motorcycles belonging to the attackers were destroyed.

“These gallant officers died doing what they swore an oath to do to serve, to protect, and to defend lives and property. Their sacrifice reminds us that every day, police officers across Nigeria put themselves in harm’s way so that millions of Nigerians can live, work and sleep with a measure of safety and peace,” Disu said

He noted that behind every fallen officer is a family that has lost a husband, father, son, brother or loved one, “To the families of our fallen heroes, I extend, on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force, my deepest condolences,” he added.

“We grieve with you, we stand with you, and we will not abandon you. The Force remains committed to supporting you and ensuring that the sacrifice of your loved ones is never forgotten.”

The police chief urged Nigerians to remember the officers and thousands of police personnel who continue to make similar sacrifices across the country.

“Their service is a solemn reminder that the security of our nation comes at a cost, often borne by men and women who willingly place their lives on the line for others,” he said.

“Let me assure Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property. We shall continue to work with the Armed Forces, sister security agencies, state governments and our communities to confront banditry, terrorism and every form of violent criminality threatening our nation.

“We shall not be intimidated, we shall not relent, and we shall not allow the sacrifices of our fallen heroes to be in vain.

We will continue to pursue these criminal elements, disrupt their activities and bring those responsible for attacks on our personnel and innocent citizens to justice. The Nigeria Police Force remains fully committed to restoring and sustaining peace and security across every part of our dear country.”

Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Intervention Squad, SIS, CP Abayomi Shogunle, called on the IGP to ensure that the families left behind by the fallen officers are well taken care of, adding that this would serve as a motivation for those still in service.

He said, “The men came under attack, and they stood their ground. They did not run away like others did. They did not abandon their beats like we have seen others doing. They stood their ground, and the battle damage assessments that was done even up to this week, the community called the police to an area where they saw vultures circulating, and 25 bodies of these terrorists were still seen.

“Our battle damage assessment has indicated that these terrorists were killed in their hundreds because these men did not abandon their beats. The late personnel fought with courage and dedication. Till August 19, 2026, the villagers are still calling on the police to come and recover more bodies of the bandits.

“I want to urge the IG, sir, please, the Nigerian police force should not abandon these families. The SIS is a well-trained, highly motivated team, and it is on record,  no police unit has achieved what the SIS has achieved. I will urge the IG that we shouldn’t allow the morale of these men to go down.

“Anything the SIS cannot do, no police unit, I say it with all my chest, no police unit can do it, and that’s the reason why we need to keep the spirit of these men going.”