Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna
Twelve soldiers were feared killed on Tuesday night when bandits attacked them at Kampanin Doka Village in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The soldiers were said to part of a special force deployed in the area to protect expatriates and people working on a new road linking the state via Dansadau-Dangulbi and Birnin-Gwari to neighbouring Zamfara State.
Our correspondent learnt that an expatriate engineer working at the site was last year kidnapped by unknown gunmen but was later released. Following that incident, workers, including expatriates deserted the site but were later mobilised back on the conditions that they would be provided with adequate security.
A source, who pleaded anonymity, said the attackers, numbering about 120 and all riding motor bikes stormed the soldiers’ camp between 9pm and 10 pm, killing three of the soldiers who were in trenches and another nine in the camp.
Our correspondent also learnt that before the attack, the bandits carried out two separate attacks at Doka and Maganda.
It also was gathered that when the bandits attacked Maganda village they shot indiscriminately and injured about nine persons who are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.
Our correspondent also learnt that the soldiers were taken unawares by the bandits who were said to be armed to the teeth for that operation.
“We gathered that the soldiers caught a thief in a village called Maganda in the area and were taking him back to their camp when some policemen asked them to hand over the thief to them but the soldiers allegedly refused.
“The policemen followed the soldiers to their camp in Kampanin Doka and again asked them to hand over the thief to them, but the soldiers still refused. Around 8pm on Tuesday, bandits attacked the soldiers and killed three of them in a hole and nine others in a tent in the camp,” said the source.
However, our correspondent could not confirm the claim from the Kaduna State Police Command as there was no response from the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mukhtar Aliyu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police.
Also, there was no reply to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Officer, 1 Division, Nigerian Army in Kaduna Col. Muhammad Dole’s phone rang out and a message sent to his phone was not replied to as of the time of filing this report.
However, our correspondent gathered that Dole would issue a statement on the killings later.
A message from a group, the Birnin Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance claimed that the bandits were on revenge mission over the killing of their leader, Buhari Tsoho, also known as ‘Buhari Daji,’ a notorious bandit that controlled Zamfara and its environs by soldiers.
The group said, “A military detachment and members of the vigilante in Doka village has successfully repelled an attack by bandits numbering about 120 on motorcycles around 10.05pm on Tuesday night.
“The attackers attacked Maganda District on Monday on revenge mission over the killing of Buhari Tsoho a. k. a Buhari Daji. Nine people mostly members of the vigilante group were critically injured at Maganda.
“After Maganda, the bandits moved toward Kampanin Doka at the junction road leading to Gwaska and Dansadau. But gallant soldiers and brave youths of Doka successfully repelled the attack. Many casualties on the side of the bandits recorded and they escaped with the wounded.
“Although we informed the Kaduna State Government on the attack three days ago but the military and government officials dismissed our credible information by not taken appropriate action to forestall the attacks.
“Once more, we the people of Birnin-Gwari are under siege and in need of protection. Our youths and volunteers are ready to assist security agencies to confront armed bandits in our territory.
“We will remain vigilant and await government of Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai’s response to this security challenges in Birnin-Gwari Local Government.”
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