Bandit Attack Claims Major, 10 Soldiers, And Unspecified Number Of Vigilantes In Niger State; Military Aircraft Downed

*30 Bandits Killed, Several Injured

In a tragic incident that unfolded in Zungeru, Wushshi Local Government Area of Niger state, a group of gunmen ruthlessly attacked and killed more than 10 soldiers and an unspecified number of local vigilantes. The armed assailants, believed to be around 70 in number and armed with advanced weaponry, engaged in a fierce encounter with the soldiers on Sunday.

During the violent clash, eight soldiers sustained serious injuries from the gunfire exchanged with the bandits. Reports indicate that the soldiers managed to hold their ground and counter the attackers, eliminating over 30 of them. Many others from the assailant group were left wounded and sought refuge in the nearby bushes, as the soldiers reportedly regrouped to launch a fresh offensive against them.

The incident took a grim turn when the soldiers fell into an ambush while responding to a distress call from the Akare community, where the bandits had been engaged in cattle rustling. Misled by inaccurate information about the bandits’ movements, the soldiers encountered the ambush and engaged in a fierce battle.

Sources from the community revealed that approximately 30 bandits were killed during the confrontation, their bodies left behind in the forest. The injured attackers were reportedly evacuated by their comrades to nearby hiding spots in the bush. The physical appearance of the bandits was distinct from the typical ones known in the area, raising suspicions that they might have been hired operatives.

The bodies of the fallen soldiers were initially taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Zingeru and later moved to an undisclosed location on Monday morning.

The intensity of the attack has left residents of Akere, Wushishi, and surrounding communities in a state of fear, prompting them to flee their homes and seek refuge in Zingeru town. Despite efforts to obtain official confirmation, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Security, Alhaj Tareek Abdulrahim, remained unavailable for comment. An officer at the 31 Artillery Brigade in Minna directed inquiries to the Nigerian Army’s Director of Communication in Abuja, citing restrictions on speaking to the press.

Meanwhile, heightened security measures have been deployed to the region to track down the criminals responsible for the attack. These assailants reportedly remain stranded in the bush, along with their rustled cattle and injured comrades.

In a separate incident, another group of bandits managed to bring down a military helicopter in the kukoki community of Shiroro local government area. Details of the event remain limited at this time. The helicopter was reportedly shot down on Monday while en route to the scene of the ongoing conflict between soldiers and bandits in Wusihshi.