SUSPECTED Lakurawa terrorists have allegedly killed seven soldiers in a deadly ambush at Runji village, located about 10 kilometres from Illela town in Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
According to local sources, the attack occurred on Saturday evening as troops were returning from a military operation targeting a Lakurawa hideout in the area.
Residents disclosed that the soldiers had launched an assault on the terrorists’ camp using three military vehicles in an operation believed to have inflicted heavy casualties on the armed group before the ambush occurred.
A source familiar with the incident explained that one of the military vehicles reportedly developed a mechanical fault while the troops were on their way back to their base in Illela, forcing some of the soldiers to stop along the roadside to repair it.
“The terrorists had apparently mobilised and trailed the soldiers to retaliate for the earlier attack on their camp,” the source said.
The source further revealed that the attackers stormed the area riding on about 30 motorcycles, with each motorcycle carrying three heavily armed fighters.
“They met the soldiers where the faulty vehicle was being repaired and a fierce gun battle ensued for some time,” the source added.
Another account of the incident claimed that seven soldiers and one civilian lost their lives during the ambush.
According to the source, the troops had abandoned the faulty vehicle and were trekking back to their base with the assistance of a civilian familiar with the terrain when the terrorists attacked.
“The soldiers had abandoned the faulty vehicle and were walking back to their base with the aid of an unnamed civilian who mastered the terrain very well when the Lakurawa ambushed them, killing seven soldiers and their civilian guide,” the source said.
Another resident of Illela, who requested anonymity for security reasons, stated that at least six soldiers were initially confirmed dead at the scene, while the body of another soldier was later discovered in a nearby bush, bringing the total number of fatalities to seven.
“We saw seven corpses at the scene, and another body was found the following day,” the resident said.
Security sources also confirmed the attack and disclosed that the bodies of the slain soldiers had since been evacuated to Sokoto.
A government official in the area further revealed that a senior military officer, reportedly a lieutenant in the Nigerian Army, was among those killed during the ambush.
Efforts to get official comments on the incident were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, and the Special Adviser on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman, declined to comment.
However, a senior military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that six soldiers were killed in the attack.
“Yes, we recorded a regrettable casualty over the weekend around Ilela. However, immediate tactical reinforcements have been deployed to the area, while aggressive intelligence-led operations are ongoing to track and neutralise the terrorists responsible,” the officer said.
“In line with military tradition, we cannot disclose the identities of our fallen heroes until their next of kin have been duly notified.
“We therefore urge the media to respect the privacy of the affected families and refrain from publishing unverified casualty figures. Instead, attention should be focused on the sacrifices and commitment of our troops,” he added.