The Nigerian Military has confirmed a fierce encounter between troops of OPERATION HADARIN DAJI and terrorists near Bachaka Kurya Forest in Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The incident, which occurred on August 10th at around 11:45 PM, resulted in the tragic loss of four military personnel.
In a statement released in Abuja on Monday, Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, reported that the ambush took place near the border with the Republic of Niger. During the ensuing firefight, several terrorists were neutralized, and weapons along with ammunition were recovered.
Major General Buba added, “The corpses of the killed terrorists reveal that the attack was carried out by a terror group from Niger Republic known as Lakurawa. Unfortunately, four of our own personnel lost their lives in the encounter.”
He further mentioned that the remaining members of the terror group fled back into Niger Republic, with Nigerian troops in pursuit to eliminate the threat.
Sokoto State, located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria along the national border with the Republic of Niger, continues to grapple with significant security challenges.
Additional Incident in Katsina State:
In another incident, Salisu Ango, the liaison officer for Governor Umar Dikko Radda in the Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State, was reportedly killed by bandits. The assailants also took the life of Ango’s first wife, while his second wife remains missing.
The attack, which occurred around 10:00 PM in the Gyaza community, targeted Ango’s residence. The bandits also killed another individual, injured one more person, and abducted 28 people in the Shirgi Community of Batsari Local Government Area.
Reports indicate that the attackers stole an unspecified number of domestic animals during the raid. A local resident, speaking anonymously, identified one of the victims as Amadu Suru, who was fatally shot while trying to protect his animals.
The resident shared that the bandits infiltrated the village on Sunday night, focusing their assault on selected homes. Women and children were primarily targeted in the abductions. “While some managed to escape as they were being led through thick farms, 28 individuals remain in captivity,” the resident said.
Several locals also reported hearing the bandits express satisfaction, claiming that Ango had “paid the price” for his previous marriage to an ex-wife of one of their members, despite prior warnings.
News Editor