We won’t be intimidated by bandits — IG Disu

The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has vowed that the Nigeria Police Force will not be intimidated by bandits and other criminal groups threatening the country.

Disu made the declaration on Monday in Abuja during a memorial parade for 10 officers of the Police Special Intervention Squad who were killed during an encounter with suspected bandits in Kebbi State.

The officers were killed on August 10 after intercepting an armed group of suspected bandits reportedly moving from Kebbi towards Zamfara.

According to Disu, the personnel engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle but 10 officers were killed, while two others and two civilians sustained injuries and lost their lives respectively.

He said the operation also resulted in the death of at least 17 suspected bandits and the destruction of four motorcycles belonging to the attackers.

The police chief said additional bodies believed to belong to the bandits were later recovered from different parts of the forest.

Disu described the fallen officers as heroes who died while carrying out their constitutional duty to protect lives and property.

“Let me assure Nigerians that the NPF remains resolute in its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property,” he said.

He said the police would continue to collaborate with the military, other security agencies, state governments and local communities to tackle banditry, terrorism and other forms of criminality.

“We shall not be intimidated, relent and not allow the sacrifice of our fallen heroes to be in vain,” Disu said.

The IG expressed condolences to the families of the deceased officers, acknowledging the loss of husbands, fathers, sons, brothers and other loved ones.

He assured the families that the police would continue to support them and ensure that the sacrifices of the officers were not forgotten.

Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Intervention Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, praised the officers for standing their ground during the attack.

Shogunle said the officers refused to abandon their positions despite the intensity of the confrontation.

He claimed that community members reported seeing vultures around the area last week, leading to the discovery of about 25 bodies believed to be those of terrorists.

According to him, the police’s battle damage assessment indicated that the number of terrorists killed during the confrontation was significantly higher than the initial figures, as the officers remained at their posts throughout the encounter.