3 Soldiers, 2 Vigilante Killed In Nasarawa Militia Attack

Three soldiers have lost their lives in an alleged ambush by a militia group in Katakpa community of Toto local government area of Nasarawa State.

The militia also killed two members of a vigilante group in the ambush which happened Tuesday afternoon.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the soldiers along with members of the vigilante group were on patrol when they were ambushed and killed.

The chairman of Toto local government area, Mr Abdullahi Aliyu Tashas confirmed the attack and the casualties to our correspondent yesterday.

He said the soldiers deployed to maintain peace in the area were allegedly attacked by Bassa militia.

“Bassa people attacked four communities in Katakpa village and as a result of that the soldiers were drafted to maintain law and order.

“And while the soldiers were on patrol the Bassa people ambushed them and killed three soldiers on Tuesday afternoon,” he alleged.

He said the corpses of the soldiers have been recovered and handed over to the representatives of the military authority who visited the area over the attack.

“As I am talking to you now, I am standing with the ambulance that is conveying the dead bodies of the soldiers that were killed in the ambush,” he said.

The development came barely a week after armed men killed three persons and destroyed properties worth millions of naira during the attack on the community.

Recall that about three weeks ago suspected militia also launched an attack on the neighbouring Okudud community killing seven people. Scores of people were also injured with many houses razed in the January attack.

The chairman said the spate of attacks necessitated the deployment of the military to the area.

He said the state government has waded into the matter, adding that normalcy will soon return to the area.