An officer says attackers stole four AK-47 rifles as transporters describe a dangerous road and analysts question highway security.
By Onibiyo Segun
SOKOTO State, Nigeria — A police officer who reached the scene during a rescue response told TruthNigeria that five officers were killed, five injured and four AK-47 rifles stolen in the November 2 ambush on the Sokoto–Gusau highway.
The officer, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said the policemen were travelling to an All Progressives Congress (APC) rerun primary election when armed bandit-terrorists attacked them.
“The bandit-terrorists killed five police officers, injured five and stole four AK-47 rifles. The officers were on their way to an APC rerun primary election when they were attacked,” the officer told TruthNigeria by telephone.
A transporter who arrived minutes after the attack also described a gruesome scene.
“We arrived at the scene few minutes after the policemen were attacked. The scene was gory. It looked like they were first overpowered, tied and killed,” Salisu Anka, who operates the Sokoto–Zamfara route, told TruthNigeria in a telephone interview.
“It has become almost an every week thing here on this road. Security men, like the civilians, are targeted,” Anka said.
Sahara Reporters reported that the officers were travelling from Sokoto to Zamfara in a white Zamfara State Mass Transit bus for a special duty assignment when attackers struck. The report initially said casualty figures were unclear and photographs appeared to show officers tied.
The officer’s account identifies the assignment as an APC rerun primary election, unlike the initial media report, which described a special duty assignment. Whether the officers had an escort remains unclear. He did not identify the attackers or say where the injured officers were taken.
Anka said, “we transporters fear Gidan Kano route. We usually travelled in convoys and avoided early morning and late evening journeys because of these terrorists”.
Analysts Question How Officers Were Moved
“Why would officers on special duty travel in an easily identifiable state mass transit bus, without escort, without advance communication to formations along the route?” Deputy Commissioner of Police Bukar Alli, a counter-terrorism expert based in Katsina, asked in a telephone interview with TruthNigeria. “Now, men have died, weapons lost. Not smart. Not good “.
“Operations are reactive. Operation FANSAN YAMMA conducts clearance, then leaves. No permanent highway domination,” Alli said.
Alli said clearance without road security lets attackers return.
“Highways are the weakest link in our security architecture. These security men should know this better and prepare for this kind of attack. Security operations focus on forest clearance, but armed groups know that operations are periodic, not permanent,” Prof. Amoon Bello told TruthNigeria.
TruthNigeria Had Reported Rising Highway Attacks
Weeks before the latest incident, TruthNigeria reported escalating attacks in Zamfara. An October 18 report documented nearly 30 vehicles burned or vandalised within one week along the Gusau–Dansadau and Dansadau–Magami routes, alongside abductions and displacement. Some travellers were reportedly attacked despite military escort.
In March 2026, TruthNigeria reported the abduction of Musa Usman Abba, a Zamfara graduate seized on January 9 while travelling to Sokoto for National Youth Service Corps duty. His family reportedly faced ransom demands.
Gidan Kano Has a Record of Highway Attacks
In January 2026, Zagazola reported that armed men blocked the Gusau–Sokoto highway near Gidan Kano village in Maradun Local Government Area and abducted four people, including Police Constable Gaddafi Faruku.
Alli said the recurrence should prompt police to map previous incidents, improve community intelligence and review protection for official movements.
“Preventive policing is not about more checkpoints to extort drivers. It is about domination of black spots with mobile patrol, drone, and early warning from vigilantes,” Alli said.
Repeated Attacks Threaten Public Confidence
Anka said transporters were changing travel habits. Bello warned that repeated attacks could undermine public confidence and disrupt commerce as travellers reconsider journeys.
“It creates two crises; legitimacy crisis and economic crisis,” Anka said.
In October 2026, TruthNigeria reported that 14 security personnel were killed during simultaneous attacks on Bindin and Gobirawar Chali communities in Maru Local Government Area. The separate incident illustrates wider risks to security personnel but does not link the attackers.
Police Must Establish What Happened
AIG Ahmed Musa assumed duty as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 10 on October 12, 2026. The zone oversees policing in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
“Police authorities should inform on the officers’ identities, formations, location, attack time and assignment, and clarify whether nearby formations were alerted, an escort provided or a distress call received before and after the attack”, DCP Alli explained.
At the time of publication, TruthNigeria had sent enquiries to the relevant police commands but had received no response.
TruthNigeria also contacted the office of Sokoto State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Alhaji Sambo Bello Danchadi. His aides confirmed that the office was aware of the reported ambush but said they had no further details and were therefore unable to comment. They assured TruthNigeria that the state government was taking specific steps to address the reported attack.
Families need confirmation of the officers’ identities and deaths. Road users need assurance that authorities can prevent another attack, not merely recover bodies.
Alli said convoy travel and restricted travel hours signal danger, urging police to investigate, disclose failures and deliver lasting reforms.
Onibiyo Segun reports on terrorism and conflict for TruthNigeria.
