Nigerian police killed in clashes with armed gang

Fighting between Nigerian security forces and a large group of armed men in the northwest of the country early on Tuesday killed nearly 30 people, including 10 police officers, police said.

The dawn clashes took place in Kebbi State, which like other northwestern and central states is plagued by armed criminal gangs, locally known as bandits, who carry out cattle rustling and kidnappings for ransom.

The groups routinely conduct bloody raids on villages, killing residents, pillaging and setting fire to homes.

"Our men intercepted and engaged a heavily armed group of suspected bandits moving between Zamfara and Kebbi States" in Rafin Makuku in Sakaba local government area, Bashir Usman, Kebbi State police spokesman, told AFP.

"Tragically, we lost 10 gallant police personnel in the engagement, while two others sustained injuries and are receiving medical attention," Usman said.

Two civilians also died during the clashes, in which 17 "bandits" were killed, although the final figures are still being assessed, he added.

Police said the bandits were trying to attack the area of Rafin Makuku.

Resident Ahmad Sani told AFP that attackers arrived by the hundreds on motorbikes before exchanging gunfire with police.

"Many police were killed but the police also killed about 20 of the gunmen, they are bandits," Sani told AFP.

Ibrahim Ngaski, an official from the Kebbi State chapter of the Red Cross, reported the same number of police killed.

"We are now informed that at least 10 policemen have been killed, some civilians too were killed," he told AFP.

Despite security forces, including the army, having been deployed to the region for several years to fight the armed groups, violence continues.