At least 10 police officers were killed in a gun battle with armed rebels in northern Nigeria, authorities said on Tuesday.
The fighting took place on Monday in Sakaba local government area of Kebbi state, near the border with Zamfara state, police spokesperson Bashir Usman said.
Two civilians and 17 rebels were also killed in the clash, according to a police statement.
Usman said security forces intercepted a group of heavily armed rebels travelling on motorcycles after they were spotted near the Zamfara border, an area known as a stronghold of armed gangs that frequently raid villages and towns.
“Tragically, we lost 10 gallant police personnel in the engagement,” Usman said, adding that two other officers were injured and were receiving medical treatment.
The clash is the latest in a series of deadly attacks in northern Nigeria, where armed groups have been fighting for territory and control of natural resources as security forces struggle to contain the violence.
Dozens of people have been killed in attacks across the region in recent weeks, while police and other security personnel have increasingly come under attack.
The United States is providing military assistance to Nigeria under an agreement that Washington says is aimed at protecting Nigerian Christians. Much of the support, however, is focused on logistics and intelligence gathering related to violence in the north.
