A Community Health Officer and five other persons have been killed during a bandit attack on Yarkatsinan Laka community in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where attackers also set a primary health centre ablaze.

The Zamfara State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, saying the attackers invaded the community in large numbers on motorcycles and were armed with sophisticated weapons.

According to the police, the bandits arrived on more than 50 motorcycles, prompting a swift response from a police strike unit that engaged them in a gun battle.

The command said 11 of the attackers were killed during the exchange of fire, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.

During the confrontation, two police officers and three civilians were killed, including the Community Health Officer, while one officer sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment.

The attackers also set fire to a primary health centre in the community, destroying medical facilities and disrupting essential healthcare services in the area.

Police said normalcy has since been restored in the community following the operation and ongoing security deployment.

The command urged residents to support security agencies with timely and credible information to assist ongoing efforts to curb banditry and other violent crimes in the state