The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed that 44 people were killed in a coordinated attack on multiple communities in Shanga Local Government Area.
The affected communities include Gebe, Kalkami, Kawara, Kasoshi, Awaye, Tungar Rini, Binuwa, and Dabe, where armed assailants reportedly carried out simultaneous assaults, leaving dozens dead and causing widespread panic.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Bashir Usman, disclosed that a statewide clearance operation has been launched in response to the attacks.
According to him, the operation followed directives from the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, aimed at curbing further incidents of banditry and violent crime across the state.
The police said that significant deployments of personnel, alongside other security agencies, have been made to the affected areas, resulting in the restoration of relative calm.
The command also confirmed that investigations into the attacks were ongoing, with security operatives intensifying efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible.
The clearance operation is focused on high-risk zones, including farmlands, forests, border communities, and remote settlements.
It involved coordinated patrols, intelligence-driven stop-and-search activities, and joint security operations.
As part of the ongoing efforts, security forces recovered two AK-47 rifles along the Illo-Kamba axis, a development the police described as evidence of the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing.
The Commissioner of Police in Kebbi State, Umar Hadejia, called on residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies with timely and credible information.
He also urged traditional rulers, community leaders, religious organisations, and youth groups to collaborate with authorities in restoring peace and strengthening security across the state.
The latest violence underscores ongoing security challenges in parts of northern Nigeria, where communities continue to face threats from armed groups operating in rural and border regions.
