GUNMEN on Monday reportedly killed eight soldiers, including a lieutenant, during an attack in Kaduna State, in what is the latest security setback amid persistent banditry in parts of northern Nigeria.
A military source told News Point Nigeria that the incident occurred while troops were heading out on a rescue mission following an earlier attack and abduction around communities situated along the Kaduna River between Chikun and Igabi Local Government Areas.
According to the source, the soldiers were responding to the earlier security breach when they came under attack from the armed assailants.
The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, and details of the operation were still sketchy as of the time of filing this report.
Efforts by News Point Nigeria to obtain official confirmation from the Nigerian Army were unsuccessful, as calls and inquiries sent to military authorities had yet to receive a response.
The latest attack comes amid a renewed wave of banditry and violent assaults across parts of the North-West and North-Central regions despite ongoing military operations aimed at restoring security and dismantling criminal networks.
In recent months, several communities across the affected regions have continued to experience attacks, kidnappings and other forms of criminal violence, prompting intensified security operations by the military and other security agencies.
The incident also recalls a similar development in March last year when several soldiers were killed during coordinated attacks by bandits on military bases in parts of Kaduna and Niger states.
At the time, the Nigerian Army described the assaults as a “three-pronged attack” on the affected military formations, underscoring the growing sophistication of armed groups operating in the region.
Monday’s reported killing of the soldiers is likely to heighten concerns over the security situation in the area as authorities continue efforts to contain the activities of bandits and other armed groups.
Official confirmation and further details from military authorities were still being awaited at the time of this report.
