By Baba Alfa, Minna

In the early hours of Wednesday, bandits in their hundreds invaded a military camp in Mashegu Local Government Area and killed over 20 Nigerian soldiers during a gun duel in Bangi community of Mariga Local Government Area, Niger State.

NewsDirect reports that the actual number of slain soldiers could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report. According to eyewitnesses, the Chairman of Mariga Local Government, Hon. Abbas Adamu, said both injured and dead soldiers were taken to the Kontagora Military Barracks.

The chairman also disclosed that several suspected bandits were neutralised during the gun exchange between the two sides in Bangi community of Mariga Local Government Area.

“Three days ago, we got information about the movement of the bandits coming from Zamfara through their route to the Bangi axis, and the concerned authorities were notified. But to our surprise, they went to the military camp at Kwona Dutse and later moved to the Gulbin Boka axis after causing havoc at the camp on Tuesday,” the chairman stated.

Alhaji Abbas Kasuwa Garba, also confirmed that the incident occurred in two separate communities: Kwona Dutse, near Bangi, around 11 o’clock at night, and Gulbin Boka, around 5 o’clock in the evening on the same day.

Hon. Abbas disclosed to our correspondent that, as of the time of filing this report, seventeen bodies of soldiers had been retrieved from the forest and deposited at the Kontagora Barracks, while vigilantes and other security operatives were still combing the area, searching and trailing the criminals.

According to the chairman, “We were told that several bandits were neutralised in the process. But our main concern remains the fate of our security personnel.” He commended the efforts of the Air Force in countering the criminals and urged residents to report any suspicious movement to the authorities. He also appealed to the people to remain calm, assuring that the government was doing everything possible to restore peace and stability in the area.

He added that, prior to the incident, the local government authorities had already issued a directive for residents of Kurji and Dogon Dawa communities to vacate the area in order to avoid such occurrences.

As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been issued by the military or any security agency in the state.