Two police officers have been confirmed dead following an attack by suspected bandits in Zonkwa, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the incident on Saturday.
He said an investigation was underway to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
According to reports, the incident occurred on Friday evening at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Zonkwa, the administrative center of Zangon Kataf.
Witnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the armed assailants invaded the police station in a bid to free suspected vandals who were earlier arrested in Kachia Local Government Area.
However, it was later gathered that the detainees the bandits sought to rescue were not being held at the Zonkwa station.
Security sources said the gunmen arrived in large numbers and opened fire on the police officers on duty. Two officers lost their lives during the exchange, while others reportedly escaped with minor injuries.
The Kaduna Police Command has since deployed additional personnel to the area to restore order and prevent further attacks.
Residents of Zonkwa have been living in fear following the incident, as banditry continues to pose a major security threat across southern Kaduna communities.
The command urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security operatives in providing credible information that could help track down the attackers.
The bodies of the slain officers have been moved to a nearby hospital morgue, while a discreet investigation is ongoing.
Kaduna State has recorded several deadly attacks in recent months, with security forces and civilians often targeted by armed groups operating in the region.