IGP honours 10 officers killed in Kebbi gun battle, vows relentless fight against terrorists

Disu paid tribute to the fallen officers on Monday at a memorial parade held in their honour at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where he said the deceased personnel paid the supreme price while carrying out their constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.

The IGP said the sacrifice of the officers should not be forgotten, urging Nigerians to remember not only the 10 fallen personnel but also thousands of police officers who continue to put their lives at risk in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other forms of violent crime across the country.

“Today, we gather with heavy hearts, but with immense pride, to honour 10 gallant officers of the Nigeria Police Force, who paid the supreme price in service to our dear nation during a fierce encounter with suspected bandits along the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Monday, 10 August 2026,” Disu said.

The IGP said the police personnel had intercepted a heavily armed group of suspected bandits moving between Zamfara and Kebbi states.

He said the encounter subsequently developed into a fierce gun battle in which the officers fought “with courage and determination” in defence of civilians and national security.

According to him, 10 police personnel were killed during the confrontation, while two other officers sustained injuries. Two civilians were also killed in the incident.

Disu said the operation inflicted significant losses on the suspected bandits, with at least 17 of the attackers reportedly neutralised and four motorcycles belonging to them destroyed.

The IGP described the fallen officers as gallant personnel who died while fulfilling the oath they took to serve, protect and defend the lives and property of Nigerians.

“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,” he said.

Disu stressed that the loss of the 10 officers would not weaken the resolve of the Nigeria Police Force in confronting violent criminal elements.

He assured Nigerians that the Force remained committed to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, adding that the police would continue to work closely with the Armed Forces, other security agencies, state governments and local communities to tackle insecurity.

“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”, the IGP said.

The IGP further vowed that the Force would intensify efforts to track down criminal elements responsible for attacks on security personnel and innocent citizens.

“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,” he said.

The Special Intervention Squad has been deployed as part of efforts by the police to strengthen operational capacity against violent criminal groups and respond to security threats in affected communities.

Disu, while acknowledging the grief suffered by the families of the deceased officers, assured them that the Nigeria Police Force would continue to stand by them.

He pledged that the Force would provide necessary support to the families and ensure that the sacrifices of their loved ones were not forgotten.

The IGP’s tribute came amid continuing security challenges across parts of northern Nigeria, where security forces have been conducting operations against armed groups involved in banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

He urged Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies by providing useful information and cooperating with personnel deployed to protect communities.

Disu maintained that the ultimate sacrifice made by the 10 officers should strengthen, rather than diminish, the resolve of the police and other security agencies to restore lasting peace and security to affected communities.

He said the Force would continue to honour its fallen personnel by ensuring that their commitment to national service translates into renewed efforts to protect Nigerians and bring violent criminal groups to justice.