PITIFUL: Four Nigerian police officers killed in ambush by armed persons

There was confusion in Jankasa village of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Saturday when suspected armed bandits ambushed a team of police officers killing four of them.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning when a team of policemen went into a bush in the area to carry out a special operation.
There had been reports that some kidnappers reside in the area.
The police officers were said to be from the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigerian Police Force headquarters in Abuja.
A farmer at Rigasa community, whose farm was located along the route where the incident occurred, told PREMIUM TIMES that gunshots were heard during the battle.
“I was about to visit my farm when we heard gunshots. We also saw smoke coming from a Fulani community that was close to the farm,” the farmer who identified himself as Aliyu told PREMIUM TIMES.
“I heard that four policemen were killed during the shootout. In fact, I decided not to proceed to the farm for fear of the unknown.”
PREMIUM TIMES also learnt that residents of Rigasa trooped out in large numbers to have a glimpse of Fulani women who were seen leaving the bush after the attack.
“All their huts were set ablaze by the security agents during the operation. Smoke covered everywhere as we watched the women coming out of the bush,” another resident who identified himself as Anas said.
The Kaduna Police Command Public Relations Officer, Yakubu Sabo, confirmed the casualty.
“The information reaching us is that we lost the four personnel during an ambush at a village called Jankasa. But we are still gathering facts about the incident which will indicate what actually happened there,” he said.
He also said the police officers were from Abuja and were at the bush to carry out a special operation.
Mr Sabo said additional security was deployed to the area on Saturday to ensure the attackers were apprehended.
According to him, the operation is still ongoing in the bush where the incident occurred.
PREMIUM TIMES recently reported how a a popular Islamic cleric, Ahmad Algarkawy, was abducted in the area where Saturday’s ambush occurred.
He has since been released by his captors amidst reports that ransom was paid. The police, however, said they were not aware that ransom was paid before the cleric was freed.