Two Soldiers Killed, Scores Abducted as Bandits Attack Zamfara Community
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Two Soldiers Killed, Scores Abducted as Bandits Attack Zamfara Community
By Mohammed Ibrahim Abdullahi
Suspected bandits have reportedly killed two soldiers and abducted scores of residents during a midnight attack on Kasuwar-Daji community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The attack, which residents said began around 1:40 a.m. on Saturday, allegedly targeted the Forward Operating Base in the community, where the gunmen engaged troops in a fierce gun battle.
Local sources claimed the assailants overran the military outpost, killing two soldiers, injuring others and setting ablaze a military Hilux vehicle as well as soldiers’ accommodation.
The attackers were thereafter said to have invaded the nearby community, abducting about 70 residents, mostly women and children, while looting several shops before fleeing into the surrounding forest.
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A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said the attackers operated for several hours without resistance.
He blamed the recurring attacks on the difficult terrain and inadequate security presence across Kaura Namoda and neighbouring local government areas, alleging that the situation had emboldened criminal gangs involved in kidnappings and cattle rustling.
The incident was first reported by conflict journalist Bakatsine on X, who described it as one of the latest coordinated attacks on rural communities in Zamfara.
However, the Nigerian Army has disputed parts of the accounts provided by residents.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Army presented a different account of the incident, maintaining that its troops responded differently to the attack.
The military did not immediately provide further details to reconcile the conflicting narratives.
As of the time of filing this report, the exact number of casualties and abducted residents could not be independently verified, while security authorities were said to be assessing the aftermath of the attack.
