Authorities say 10 Nigerian police officers were killed in gunbattle with rebels in the north

ABUJA, Nigeria - A gunbattle between rebels and Nigerian security forces has resulted in the deaths of 10 police officers, according to authorities. The incident occurred on Monday in the Sakaba council area of Kebbi state, per a police spokesperson named Bashir Usman. Two civilians and 17 of the rebels also lost their lives in the clash.

The rebels were heavily armed and traveling on motorcycles when they were intercepted by security forces, who were operating near the border with Zamfara state, a region known for frequent raids by armed gangs. This latest violence is part of a recurring cycle of conflict in Nigeria, a country with one of the highest populations in Africa.

Gangs often vie for territory and control of natural resources in villages where they outnumber the limited security forces. The U.S. government has been offering military assistance to Nigeria as part of an agreement aimed at protecting Nigerian Christians, though much of this aid is limited to logistical and intelligence support centered in the heart of the violence in the north.