Crimes

Bandits kill 13 soldiers in Niger State

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed no fewer than 13 soldiers in the Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State.

It was gathered that the soldiers were killed in an ambush by bandits along the Zungeru-Tegina Road in Niger State on Sunday night.

It was learnt that the soldiers were on their way to some communities in the state when they were attacked by the gunmen.

No fewer than seven other troops and five vigilantes were also said to have sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries in the attack.

Confirming the incident, the senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Mohammed Sani Musa, while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday, appealed to the federal government to deploy more security operatives to the area.

Musa said: “This is a very serious situation happening at a time we are happy that the issue of banditry is subsiding in our various communities in Niger State.

“The federal government should as a matter of urgency, deploy all its arsenal in order to curtail further spread.

“We have been having a reduction in cases of attacks, but now, it appears as if there is a serious escalation of the situation.

“The most alarming situation now is that the attacks look like planned work because the bandits are carrying out their operations simultaneously in many parts of Niger State.

“Government should please, as a matter of urgency, take drastic action on it and save the lives and property of our people.”

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has yet to speak on the incident as of press time.

The Star