Bandits Kill 3 Soldiers, 4 Policemen In Zamfara State

Bandits operating in Zamfara State have killed three soldiers of the Nigerian Army and four personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

The security personnel were killed in an ambush by the bandits during a gunfight by both parties on Zamfara highway on Thursday.

According to the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dalijan, the murdered security personnel were part of a joint team of security forces deployed to stop a planned attack by the bandits on a construction company working along the highway.

However, unfortunately, during the intervention, the bandits laid an ambush and opened fire on the security forces, leading to the death of three soldiers and four policemen.

“The bandits had wanted to enter Setraco camp to abduct some staff of Setraco company, we had the information, we sent our men not knowing that they had laid ambush on the road.

“As we are going they met heavy resistance from the bandits, they opened fire, they exchanged gunfire and in the process, we lost some army personnel and police personnel too.”

“We lost three soldiers and four policemen,” CP Dalijan confirmed as quoted by Channels TV.

Meanwhile, the residents of Moriki town, located in the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, have successfully persuaded the bandit leader, Bello Turji, to lower the ransom he set from ₦50 million to ₦30 million, with a payment deadline established for Wednesday.

It was gathered that the said amount is purportedly intended as compensation for the death of Turji’s cattle, which were killed by the new commander of the Army base situated in Moriki.

Each head of a household is expected to contribute ₦10,000, while unmarried individuals are required to pay ₦2,000.

Furthermore, it has been reported that the villagers are proceeding with the payment despite the commander’s counsel against it and his assurance that he would not harm Turji’s livestock again.