Bandits Ambush Troops in Zamfara

Armed bandits in Zamfara State ambushed troops deployed for operations in the forest, a source in Shinkafi Local Government Area of the state told Daily Trust on Sunday.

The ambush followed the soldiers’ raid on suspected camps of the armed bandits, who have been terrorizing residents of the state.

“The troops went to the area to carry out an operation. On their way back, they learnt that two of their men were missing and they went back to search for them. That was when they were ambushed by the armed bandits.

“A heavy gunfight ensued between the troops and the armed bandits and two of the bandits were neutralized. The missing soldiers were found. Though some of the soldiers sustained minor injuries, none of them died,” the source said.

The source further stated that the armed bandits were around Kagara, a border village between Zamfara and Sokoto.

A resident, Ali Haruna, said he observed movement of soldiers with heavy weaponry some days back, adding that the operation was a welcome development. The Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Alhaji Yahaya Shehu, said an operation was on-going but that he could not speak on the progress made so far. He then referred our correspondent to the commanding officer.

Zamfara State has been enjoying relative peace, following a peace deal brokered in December 2016, by the state government.

The commanding officer of the 223 Light Tank Battalion in the state could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.