Bandits killed five mobile policemen and three civilians at Gatikawa community, Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The mobile policemen were said to be on special duty from Kano State.
The incident occurred at about 5:35pm on Wednesday, when over 300 gunmen stormed the community and started shooting sporadically to scare the residents.
According to Daily Trust, a source said the gunmen, who wielded automatic weapons and rode on motorcycles, went from house to house carting away anything of value, including money and food items.
He said several residents were also injured, especially those who attempted to escape.
He said residents have been apprehensive following the attack, and that some persons have relocated to the neighbouring communities for fear of another attack.
This is the second time in a month when police officers would be killed by bandits.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that on July 5, 2022, gunmen killed the senior police officer in charge of Dutsinma council area, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Aminu Umar, alongside one other police officer and several civilians.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Idrisu Dabban Dauda, has presented cheques of N14.6m to families and next of kin of the deceased police officers, who died while in active service, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba Usman.
The state police spokesperson, SP Gambo Isah, who discloed this in a statement said the presentation of the cheques was part of the IGP’s Family Welfare Insurance Scheme being given to families of deceased Police Officers.