Armed bandits operating in Zamfara State, Tuesday night, killed an army major, two soldiers and one civilian, Dateline Nigeria has gathered.
The military personnel and villagers were killed when a large number of gunmen launched an evening attack on Kabasa village, about an hour drive to Gusau, the state’s capital.
Residents said the attackers maybe on a revenge mission as soldiers foiled a similar assault on the community and killed many of them about three weeks ago.
A local told Dateline that the victims were taken to Magami General Hospital, where two soldiers and one civilian were confirmed dead.
He said another soldier and four civilians were still on admission.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Brig General Mohammed Yerima and that of the Zamfara State Police Command Mohammed Shehu did not respond to a request for comment from Dateline.
A military source however confirmed that a major and three soldiers died in the attack.
He said the soldiers were part of a contingent that was deployed to Zamfara State from a military unit in Bauchi.
The source said more soldiers were being sent to the area to go after the gunmen.
Two weeks ago, the Federal Government declared a no-fly zone in Zamfara State and banned mining activities, a move it said was to curb the rising insecurity in the state.
The declaration followed the abduction of 297 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Jangebe in Talata Mafara Local Government.
The Zamfara State government has since secured the release of the girls.
