THREE Nigerian Army soldiers and four Nigeria Police Force officers were killed today while attempting to repel a bandit attack on the Zamfara highway.
According to the stateโs Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dalijan, the bandits had targeted a construction company operating along the highway.
He explained that joint security forces from the police and the Army were deployed to the area. However, the bandits had set up an ambush and opened fire on them.
The commissioner emphasized that the troops fought bravely in their efforts to repel the attack.
โThe bandits aimed to enter the Setraco camp to abduct some staff members of the company. We received this information and dispatched our men, but unfortunately, the bandits had already laid an ambush on the road,โ Dalijan said.
โAs our men advanced, they encountered strong resistance from the bandits, who opened fire. A gunfight ensued, during which we lost some Army and police personnel.โ
โWe lost three soldiers and four police officers,โ CP Dalijan confirmed.
Earlier reports from indicated that the bandits had blocked the busy Gusau-Funtua highway for about two hours.