Zamfara Police confirm killing of DPO, inspector by gunmen

The Zamfara State Police Command has mourned the death of a Divisional Police Officer in charge of Maru Local Government Area of the state, SP Kazeem Kareem, and Inspector Rabiu Umar killed by gunmen on Saturday.

In a statement, the Spokesperson for the Command, SP Mohammed Shehu, said the Commissioner of Police, Kolo Yusuf, prayed Almighty Allah to repose the departed souls and give their families and relations the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

The statement said, “On March 5, 2023, around 2:am, gunmen in large numbers, armed with sophisticated weapons attacked Maru Division with intent to destabilise the security architecture of the town in order to easily attack and abduct members of the community.

“However, the late DPO and team gallantly put up a strong resistance to repel the attackers.

“Unfortunately, himself and Inspector Rabiu lost their lives while protecting the public.

“The Commissioner of Police has deployed reinforcement to pursue the fleeing hoodlums and arrest them for investigation and prosecution.”

He said the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, DCP Iliyasu Kwarbai, led another police tactical team to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment and confidence building patrol.

The statement further added that CP had reassured the general public of the Command’s continuous commitment to protecting lives and property in the state.

Recall that the DPO was killed by bandits alongside a yet-to-be-identified police sergeant and a vigilante.

A source from the community told  journalists that bandits were in the area purposely to kidnap Alhaji Ilisayu, a businessman.

The bandits had, according to the source, kidnapped Ilisayu’s brother, who was reportedly freed after a ransom was paid, but they (bandits) came back to kidnap him but he managed to escape, while his wife was abducted.