Four riot policemen lost their lives on Friday following an attack from bandits numbering about 100 on them along Birnin-Gwari Funtua highway.
It was reported that the operatives attached to Police Mobile Force 9 Squadron, Kano, repelled the attacks and inflicted heavy casualties on the criminals.
According to a statement by the Force spokesman on Sunday, CP Frank Mba, one officer was missing from the personnel attached to Operation Puff Adder.
They had just done their operation against bandits and other criminals in Niger State, and were returning to their base in Kano when the ambush took place.
The statement disclosed that the remaining 11 men led by their Unit Commander recovered the bodies and firearms of their fallen colleagues successfully, adding that efforts were being intensified to rescue the missing officers.
The statement was titled, ‘PMF personnel successfully repel ambush attack on their convoy in Birnin-Gwari’.
It read, “Contrary to unconfirmed reports in some sections of the media stating that 18 officers were kidnapped, 16 officers were attacked in the ambush.
“The officers successfully repelled the attack accordingly and neutralised the bandits while many of the bandits scampered into the bush with gunshot injuries.
“Regrettably, four officers paid the supreme price during the exchange of gunfire between the police and the bandits while an officer is still missing.”
The Police added that four riot policemen were killed by the bandits on Friday.
In another development, the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole destroyed additional six gun trucks and eliminated scores of terrorists attempting to reinforce their colleagues in the attack on Marte in Borno State.
This is coming a few hours after the Nigeria Air Force destroyed seven guns trucks belonging to the criminals.
The Defence Headquarters Spokesman, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, disclosed in a statement that several Boko Haram terrorists were killed during the mop-up attack on their convoy on Friday.
The Defense Headquarters stated that, “The helicopters delivered accurate hits in their multiple waves of attack, obliterating no fewer than six additional gun trucks, which were seen engulfed in flames across the battle space.
“Several other terrorists were mopped-up in follow-on attacks as the helicopter gunships continued to strafe the fleeing ISWAP elements.”
