On Thursday, three soldiers of the Nigerian Army and four personnel of the Nigeria Police Force were killed while repelling an attack by bandits along the Gusau-Funtua highway in Zamfara State.
Zamfara’s Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dalijan, confirmed the deaths and explained that the joint security forces were responding to a tip-off about a planned attack by bandits on a construction company operating along the highway.
“The bandits had wanted to enter Setraco camp to abduct some staff of Setraco company,” said CP Dalijan.
“We had the information; we sent our men, not knowing that they had laid ambush on the road.”
As the police and Army personnel mobilised to the scene, they were met with heavy gunfire from the bandits, who had positioned themselves strategically to launch a surprise attack.
The commissioner described the firefight as intense, with security forces putting up strong resistance before the bandits ultimately overwhelmed them.
“As we were going, they met heavy resistance from the bandits; they opened fire, they exchanged gunfire, and in the process, we lost some army personnel and police personnel too,” Dalijan stated.
Despite the loss of life, the commissioner praised the troops for their bravery in repelling the attack.
Recall it was earlier reported that bandits blocked the busy Gusau-Funtua highway for about two hours during the ambush, creating panic among motorists and travellers, with reports of some abductions.
This latest attack has added to the growing concerns over the worsening insecurity in northern Nigeria, where banditry and kidnappings have become rampant, threatening the safety of residents and travellers alike.
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