The Nigeria Police Force has held a memorial service in Abuja for 10 officers of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) who were killed during an encounter with suspected bandits in Kebbi State.
The memorial was held on Monday, August 24, 2026, at the Force Headquarters, with senior police officers, colleagues and families of the deceased gathering to honour the fallen personnel.
The officers were killed on August 10 during an operation along the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
According to the Nigeria Police Force, the officers encountered a heavily armed group of suspected bandits reportedly moving between Zamfara and Kebbi states.
The confrontation resulted in the deaths of the 10 police personnel, while two other officers were injured.
Two civilians were also reported killed during the encounter.
The Police said the operation inflicted significant losses on the attackers, with at least 17 suspected bandits reportedly neutralised and four motorcycles belonging to the group destroyed.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu described the fallen officers as personnel who paid the ultimate price while protecting lives and property.
The memorial service provided an opportunity for the Force and the families of the deceased to remember the officers and honour their service.
Disu also reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to confronting banditry and other violent crimes across the country.
The Kebbi encounter highlights the continuing security challenges facing communities across the North-West, where armed groups continue to pose a threat to civilians and security personnel.
The police leadership has vowed to sustain operations against criminal groups operating across the region.
The families of the deceased officers were among those present at Monday’s memorial as the Force paid tribute to their colleagues who died in the line of duty.