Six Nigerian soldiers have been reportedly gunned down by bandits at Roro, Karaga and Rumace communities, Bassa Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
It was gathered that the soldiers reportedly ambushed and killed on Friday night and a captain was also said to have been abducted during the incident.
According to report, the soldiers had left their camps at Allawa and Erena to respond to a distress call when the armed bandits ambushed them at Roro village.
The bandits were also said to have killed a hunter and two farmers as well as burnt houses, food banks and motorcycles.
Speaking with the newspaper on Saturday about the sad incident, residents stated that the incident happened around 9 pm on Friday and lasted for hours.
"Six soldiers lost their lives and one volunteer hunter," one of the residents said.
Another source, Mustapha Bassa, said the bandits, who rode on motorcycle were shooting sporadically as they moved to the communities.
Reacting, the Niger State's Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brigadier-General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed, confirmed the incident.
The commissioner stated that the state government is doing its possible best to bring the perpetrators to book.
This sad incident comes barely a month after 17 military personnel were ambushed and killed while responding to a distress call during a communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities.
It was gathered that the troops were on a peace mission in the Bomadi Local Government Area when they were surrounded and attacked by community youths.
The military personnel, however, were buried amid tears in Abuja on Wednesday.
Reacting to this, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, during the burial ceremony, affirmed his resolve to pursue and bring to justice those responsible for the deaths of military personnel in Delta.
The Chief of Defence Staff pledged to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to justice.
Musa said, "To the perpetrators of violence who seek to sow division and fear among our people, know this: our resolve will not waver. We will hunt you down, we will bring you to justice, and we will restore peace and security to every nook and cranny of our dear nation."
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