The Presidency, on Tuesday, described as sad and unwelcome, the shooting incident near Dutsinma, Katsina State, at the convoy of cars carrying the Advance Team of security guards, protocol and media officers ahead of the trip of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to Daura for Sallah.
According to reports, the Police Area Commander for Dutsinma, Katsina State, ACP Aminu Umar, was reportedly killed in the ambush by terrorists in Safana Local Government Area of the state while another officer whose name was not revealed also lost his life.
In a statement signed late Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the attackers opened fire on the convoy from ambush positions but were repelled by the military, police and DSS personnel accompanying the convoy.
“Two persons in the convoy are also receiving treatment for the minor injuries they suffered.
“All the other personnel, staff and vehicles made it safely to Daura,” the statement read.
The incident comes barely days before the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations on Saturday which President Buhari would be observed in his hometown of Daura.
Meanwhile, the Spokesman for the Katsina Police Command, SP Gambo Isah confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday night.
The statement read, “Today (Tuesday) 06, July 2022 at about 11.30 a.m, a distress call was received that terrorists numbering over three hundred (300), on motorcycles, shooting sporadically with AK 47 rifles and General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), ambushed ACP Aminu Umar, Area Commander, Dutsinma and team, while on clearance operation of recalcitrant bandits/terrorists, in Zakka forest, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“Consequently, the Area Commander and one other gallant officer lost their lives during a cross-exchange of gunfire.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Idrisu Dabban Dauda, psc +, fdc, on behalf of the officers and men of the Command expresses his deep sympathy to the family of the deceased and prays to Almighty Allah to repose their souls in Jannatul Firdausi.
“He reaffirms the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to the ongoing onslaught against terrorism in the state until it is completely rooted out.”
