The Kebbi State Police Command has commenced a large-scale security operation following a series of coordinated attacks in Shanga Local Government Area that claimed dozens of lives.
At least 44 people were reportedly killed when armed assailants invaded several communities, including Gebe, Kalkami, Kawara, Kasoshi, Awaye, Tungar Rini, Binuwa, and Dabe.
The attacks, described by authorities as highly coordinated, have triggered intensified security measures across the state.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, said the operation was carried out in compliance with directives from the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu.
According to Usman, “security forces have been deployed massively to forests, border communities, and other vulnerable areas identified as hideouts and routes used by criminal elements.”
He added that the increased presence of security personnel had begun to yield results.
“There is now relative calm in the affected communities, while investigations continue to track down those responsible for the attacks,” he said.
Usman noted that the operation involves coordinated patrols, intelligence-driven stop-and-search exercises, and collaboration with other security agencies.
In what authorities described as an early success, police operatives recovered two AK-47 rifles along the Illo–Kamba corridor, indicating progress in ongoing efforts to dismantle armed groups in the area.
The Commissioner of Police, Umar Hadejia, appealed to residents to support the operation by volunteering credible information.
“We urge members of the public to remain alert and report suspicious activities promptly. Community support is critical in sustaining this offensive,” he said.
Hadejia also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, and youth groups to collaborate with security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering and prevent further attacks.
Kebbi State, like other parts of Nigeria’s North-West region, has continued to grapple with recurring incidents of banditry, including mass killings, kidnappings, and cattle rustling. Rural communities, particularly those in remote locations such as Shanga LGA, remain highly vulnerable due to limited security coverage and difficult terrains.
Residents say the recent attacks followed a familiar pattern, with gunmen striking at night and forcing many to flee their homes, thereby disrupting farming and other livelihoods.
Security authorities have reiterated that sustained collaboration between communities and law enforcement will be crucial in restoring long-term peace to the region.
