About 18 Nigerian military officers and soldiers have been killed in an ambush by armed bandits in Katsina State.
Troops of the Special Army Super Camp 4 were advancing on foot in Shimfida in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State at about 6:13 p.m. Saturday when the armed militants opened fire on them from a hilltop, according to PREMIUM TIMES.
The officers killed in the attack included a Major, a Captain and a Lieutenant, military sources told. Two bandits were also injured in the exchanges, officials briefed on the matter said.
“Troops were advancing on foot when bandits began engaging them from the hill,” a military source said.
When contacted, army spokesperson, Sagir Musa, said he could neither confirm nor comment on the attack as he was hearing it for the first time.
Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari in northwestern Nigeria, has seen a spate of attacks by armed militants, with over 300 deaths this year alone.
In another development, six people, including a female Police Officer and her daughter, have been abducted by gunmen who invaded Janruwa area, along Patrick Yakowa way in Kaduna metropolis.
Eye witnesses said the incident happened at about 10pm Saturday night.
Residents said the gunmen shot sporadically when they stormed Janruwa and made away with the six captives after raiding four houses.
“It was a commando-like adventure. They (bandits) stormed our community around past 10:00pm and raided four houses, kidnapped six people, including a woman, two young female teenagers, two young men and a grown up man.
“They picked most of the victims through the windows. After destroying the windows and removing the burglar proof, they ordered their victims out of the house.
“There was nothing anybody in the community could do to challenge them because they were armed.
“The victims had no option than to follow the attackers politely as they risked being killed if they don’t obey the bandits.
“The only woman among those kidnapped was the police officer. When they attempted to break into her house, she ran out, not knowing that the bandits were many outside. As she ran out to escape, those waiting outside her house, just picked her.
“Her teenage daughter was also taken as she tried to escape,” one of the residents said.
