More than 10 soldiers were killed and some others injured when terrorists attacked a military base in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The incident happened at about 6:30 p.m. on Monday, security sources told Channels Television. However, the military authorities have yet to confirm the attack.
Birnin-Gwari is one of the hotspots of banditry in Kaduna, where many people were killed, thousands were kidnapped, and socio-economic activities were disrupted in the past five years.
A security source in the area told Channels Television on Tuesday that the soldiers were attacked at an Army Forward Operational Base located around the Polwire area close to Mikati Farm along the Kaduna- Birnin Gwari Road.
He said the bandits, riding on motorcycles and carrying AK47 rifles, engaged the soldiers in a gun battle for more than two hours before the terrorists eventually subdued them (soldiers).
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The terrorists, it was learnt, razed the troops’ Armoured Personnel Carrier after they had overwhelmed them.
The bandits carted away weapons after dislodging the soldiers, according to the source.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union, Ishaq Usman Kasai, who also confirmed the death of three vigilante operatives, added that the attack took place on Sunday around 3 p.m.
He added that the terrorists suspected to be the Ansaru were believed to be coming from Niger State when they attacked the military base.
Kasai, however, noted that normalcy has gradually returned to Birnin Gwari who had been under intense attack.
“When we heard we had to run and seek refuge elsewhere. Most of the residents slept outside Birnin Gwari town,” he added.
He noted that the security situation in Birnin Gwari was getting out of hand, calling on the government to take urgent steps in addressing the situation.
“The security situation is becoming increasingly alarming whereby a large swath of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area is now at the mercy of marauding bandits who usually roll into towns and villages in convoys of motorcycles mostly riding three on each, brandishing AK47 rifles killing and abducting people including women and children.
“BEPU noted that the bandits usually spend hours operating with impunity and unleashing terror, especially in rural communities.
“The bandits also placed taxes on various communities and keep coming back repeatedly to attack them because of the absence of law enforcement agents.
“BEPU observes this situation as not only tragic but shameful that these bunch of ragtag bandits on motorcycles wielding AK47 rifles can roam most communities in the area with impunity killing and abducting peaceful helpless innocent citizens in a nation that seems to have standing Armed Forces and the Police,” he added.
Monday’s attack followed the abduction of 11 persons by bandits who attacked Angwar Maji community at Jere town in Kagarko Local Government Area of the state.
The attack occurred on Sunday night at the community located close to the Abuja-Kaduna Highway and the Kaduna- Bwari Road.
Residents said the terrorists struck barely a day after the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, announced the deployment of additional troops to the Abuja-Kaduna Highway and surrounding communities.
