TheCable

The Zamfara police command says gunmen have killed a Chinese national, identified as Fan Yu, in Maradun LGA of the state.

Muhammad Shehu, Zamfara police spokesperson, announced the development in a statement on Thursday.

The police spokesperson said tactical operatives of the command responded to a distress call of an ambush by bandits on a Toyota Hilux vehicle conveying two Chinese nationals with some police officers.

They were said to be on their way to Maradun LGA of the state to assess some government projects.

“As a result of the unfortunate ambush, the victims sustained various degrees of gunshot wounds and were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, for treatment,” NAN quoted Shehu as saying.

“One of the victims named Fan Yu, male, a Chinese national, was later confirmed dead by the doctors, while the other victim is responding to treatment.”

Shehu said the police operatives who responded to the distress call regarding the ambush killed 11 bandits, while other gunmen fled with wounds.

“Two AK-47 rifles, cutlasses belonging to the terrorists were recovered by the police tactical operatives in conjunction with members of the vigilante group,” he said.

Shehu said the command has deployed additional operatives to the area to complement the efforts of security operatives to restore normalcy and apprehend the fleeing gunmen.

In another development, Shehu said the command’s tactical operatives repelled an attack by bandits along the Zamfara-Katsina highway.

“The police tactical operatives deployed along Gusau-Tsafe-Yankara road received a distress call of bandit’s plan to block highway near Kucheri village,” he said.

“The operatives swung into action and mobilised to the location where a serious gun battle between the police and the terrorists ensued.

“Luckily enough, the attack was repelled while the terrorists fled back to the forest with possible gunshot injuries.

“Confidence building patrol is being intensified to avert regrouping of the bandits back to the highway.”