Six soldiers have been gunned down at Roro, Karaga, and Rumace communities, Bassa Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State on Friday night.
It was gathered that a captain was said to have been abducted during the incident when the soldiers had left their camps at Allawa and Erena to respond to a distress call when they ambushed them at Roro village.
A hunter and two farmers were also said to have been killed as well as burnt houses, food banks and motorcycles.
Recall that in March 14, at least 17 senior military officers, including 13 soldiers, two majors and one captain, from the 181 Amphibious Battalion, who were deployed on a peace-keeping mission to quell community clashes, were killed by suspected residents of Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Also last year, the military said that no fewer than three of its officers and 22 soldiers were killed during the August 13 bandits’ ambush on troops in Niger State.
One of the residents, Mustapha Bassa, said the bandits, who rode on motorcycles, were shooting sporadically as they moved to the communities around 9pm on Friday and lasted for hours.
“Six soldiers lost their lives and one volunteer hunter,” he said.
The Niger State’s Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brigadier-General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed confirmed the incident in a reply to a text message.
“All hands were on deck” to bring the perpetrators to book.
“All hands are on deck to bring the perpetrators to face the law. Government, on her own, is doing everything possible to end the insecurity issues.
“Additionally, the government will stand by the bereaved and share their grief as well as support them, now and in the long term,” he said.
The Military and Police High Command are yet to comment on the incident.
