The state Police Commissioner, Sanusi Buba, confirmed the incident.
The Katsina Command of the Nigeria Police Force on Thursday night lost two officers in a fierce encounter with bandits.
Operatives of the command also killed two bandits in the encounter which took place in a bush near Baure village, Safana Local Government Area of the state.
The operatives were also able to recover one AK 47 rifle and two unregistered motorcycles from the bandits.
The state Police Commissioner, Sanusi Buba, confirmed the incident at a press conference in Katsina on Friday.
He gave the names of the deceased officers as ASP Yakubu Joshua attached to the 27 Police Mobile Force, Katsina and Sergeant Zaharadeen Yuguda attached to the Safana Division.
The statement read, “On 18/11/2021 at about 1700hrs, based on credible intelligence, Area Commander, Dutsinma, ACP Aminu Umar, led a combined team of policemen and vigilante to Bandits’ hideout at Baure village, Safana LGA of Katsina state and engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel.
“The team succeeded in dislodging the bandits, killed two notorious bandits and recovered one AK 47 rifle with thirty-five (35) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition of AK 47 rifle.
“In the course of scanning the scene, two unregistered motorcycles Kasea and Boxer, vest of charms were recovered.
“Sadly, two gallant police officers – AP.NO.151332 Asp Yakubu Joshua, attached to 27 Police Mobile Force, (PMF), Katsina and F/NO.264575 Sgt Zaharadeen Yuguda attached to Safana Division, paid the supreme price and died in a crossfire.”
Katsina, despite being the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari has witnessed sporadic attacks by bandits and kidnappers that have claimed the lives of many.
Over 700 people have been reportedly killed by the gunmen in Jibia, Kankara, Dutsinma, Musawa, Danmusa and Safana local government areas of the state in the last five months.
On December 11, 2020, some bandits kidnapped 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, while Buhari was on a visit to the state. They were released about a week later.
Also on December 19, 84 Islamiyya students of Hizburrahim Islamiyya in Mahuta village, in the Dandume Local Government Area of the state were abducted but rescued shortly after.