Pat Stevens/
Police have confirmed that they lost 16 men in an ambush by bandits in Zamfara State during a special operation on November 29.
Police said in an earlier statement that they killed 104 bandits, destroyed 50 hideouts and lost one unidentified policeman, while 12 others were injured during the operation.
Police also said they arrested 85 suspects, and recovered over 250 heads of cattle and 109 sheeps.
However, in a statement this evening, police said a search and rescue operation by a Joint Intervention Force found 20 policemen alive and recovered the corpses of 16 others.
The statement says the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has condoled with the families of the slain policemen and ordered befitting burial for the officers.
Idris also ordered prompt payment of the life assurance benefits and other entitlements of the dead to their families.
The statement which was issued by police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, says further: “The IGP is saddened with the death of the gallant officers whom he describes as heroes of the Force; their demise is a great loss to Nigeria Police Force and our dear Nation, Nigeria. The supreme price they paid for the security and safety of the Country will not be in vain.”
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