ZAMFARA — In a tragic development, nine civil guards were killed in an ambush by gunmen in Zamfara, a northwestern state of Nigeria, an official confirmed on Tuesday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the attack occurred late Monday on the outskirts of Tsafe, a town within the Tsafe local government area. Dauda Lawal, the governor of Zamfara, reported that the victims were part of the state’s Community Protection Guards scheme and were targeted at a security checkpoint. "The bandits' ambush on our guards is a cowardly act, as they were dispersed and on the run due to sustained troops' onslaught across the state," stated Governor Lawal.

While the governor mentioned that there were additional injuries among the security operatives during the attack, specific details regarding the number of injured or their condition were not provided.