Reports reaching Africa Today News, New York has it that a devastating ambush launched by bandits in Zamfara State has claimed the lives of seven soldiers.
The Kangon Garacce community in Zamfara’s Maru Local Government Area witnessed a tragic attack on Monday afternoon, during which bandits killed scores of residents.
According to Lawal Dangulbi, one of the locals of the Dangulbi community who spoke with Newsmen on Tuesday, the troops’ unfortunate entrapment in the bandits’ ambush happened while they were rushing to respond to a distress call in the community’s attack.
‘The bandits divided themselves, some were attacking the community while some were stationed outside the community to prevent the military from assisting the villagers, they ambushed the troops and killed seven of them,’ he stated.
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He reported that the attack resulted in the loss of lives of 20 or more residents from the community.
At present, there is no response from the Nigerian Army authorities in Zamfara State regarding the incident. However, a security source, who wishes to maintain anonymity for media-related reasons, confirmed the incident.
In his account, he mentioned that seven officers of the Nigerian Army were killed in the attack on Monday.
Banditry has taken a heavy toll on Zamfara and several other states, including Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, and Sokoto for several years now.
In addition to perpetrating attacks, the bandits are notorious for conducting large-scale abductions for ransom in North-West and Central Nigeria, where they hold their captives in hidden camps within vast forests spanning the region.
Notwithstanding the tireless efforts of security agencies and state governments, the gunmen persist in unleashing havoc, resulting in the deaths of many.