Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has assured the families of 10 police officers killed during a gun battle with suspected bandits in Kebbi State that the Nigeria Police Force will not abandon them.
Disu made the commitment on Monday during a memorial parade held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja in honour of the fallen officers of the Special Intervention Squad.
The officers were killed on August 10, 2026, during an encounter with suspected bandits along the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area, Kebbi State.
According to the police, the officers had intercepted a heavily armed group of suspected bandits moving between Zamfara and Kebbi states when the confrontation occurred. Ten police personnel and two civilians were killed, while two other officers sustained injuries.
The IGP said the officers died while carrying out their constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property. He added that at least 17 suspected bandits were neutralised during the operation, while 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,” Disu said.
He acknowledged the impact of the deaths on the families of the officers, describing the fallen personnel as husbands, fathers, sons, brothers and loved ones.
“To the families of our fallen heroes, I extend, on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force, my deepest condolences. We grieve with you, we stand with you, and we will not abandon you,” he said.
Disu assured the families that the police would continue to support them and ensure that the sacrifice of their loved ones would not be forgotten.
He also said the Nigeria Police Force would continue working with the Armed Forces, other security agencies, state governments and communities to confront banditry, terrorism and other forms of violent crime.
“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 stated.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Intervention Squad, CP Abayomi Shogunle, also appealed to the IGP to ensure that the families of the deceased officers receive adequate support.
Shogunle praised the officers for standing their ground during the attack, saying they did not abandon their posts despite coming under heavy fire.
He claimed that subsequent battle damage assessments indicated that a large number of suspected terrorists were killed during the encounter. He said villagers continued to report the discovery of bodies in the area days after the confrontation.
“The late personnel fought with courage and dedication,” Shogunle said, urging the police leadership to ensure that the welfare of their families remained a priority.
He said continued support for the families would also help maintain the morale of serving members of the Special Intervention Squad.
The memorial parade provided an opportunity for the police leadership and colleagues of the fallen officers to honour their service and remember the sacrifices made during the operation.
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