Armed assailants ambushed and killed six soldiers in Nigeria’s northern Niger state last Friday, the Nigerian army announced on Monday.
This incident marks the latest blow to the military in its ongoing battle against armed gangs.
The Nigerian military has been summoned to confront the threat posed by gangs operating in the northern and central regions, which have been responsible for killings and abductions of villagers and schoolchildren.
Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, a spokesperson for the Nigerian army, stated in a late Sunday statement that troops from the First Brigade were on a combat patrol in the village of Karaga in the Shiroro local government area of Niger state when they fell into an ambush.
The rural Shiroro area is largely located in Niger state, where armed gangs, locally known as “roadside bandits,” frequently attack villages and security personnel.
Nwachukwu noted that the troops are currently pursuing the assailants who fled after killing other members of the gang and seizing their equipment.
The ambush underscores the persistent security challenges faced by Nigeria, particularly in its northern and central regions, and highlights the ongoing efforts of the Nigerian military to confront and neutralize armed criminal elements operating in the area.
Nigeria, located in West Africa, has been grappling with internal security challenges, including armed banditry and insurgency, particularly in its northern and central regions.
These areas have witnessed frequent attacks by armed groups targeting villages, security personnel, and even schoolchildren.
The Nigerian military has been actively engaged in combating these threats, deploying troops to conduct patrols and counterinsurgency operations.
