Nigerien troops have rescued nine Nigerian soldiers fleeing bandits’ assault in Sokoto, North West Nigeria.
The Nigerian soldiers were rescued at Basira, a border settlement under Gidan Roumdji district of Niger Republic, on Friday.
Bandits recently attacked a joint military base codenamed “Burkusuma Camp” in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing military and paramilitary officers.
The bandits also attacked Gatawa and other surrounding villages. Although the attack took place in the early hours of Friday, the telecommunication shutdown in parts of Zamfara State, Sokoto and Katsina affected access to information which filtered in, only on Sunday.
Aminu AlMustapha Gobir, a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly confirmed the attack, saying 12 security personnel were killed in action.
Also, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Carriers and Security Matters, Colonel Garba Moyi (rtd) confirmed the attack to Daily Trust but said he was not sure of the casualty figures.
Reports say that attacks on the Sokoto communities were carried out by combined teams of two Zamfara bandits’ kingpins, Halilu Sububu and Kachalla Turji.
Nine soldiers, three mobile policemen and three personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) lost their lives in the attack. The bandits also burnt down two patrol vehicles and carted away another one, which was used to convey food items stolen from the villagers.