Gunmen Kill 3 Soldiers, 2 Vigilantes In Nasarawa

Three soldiers have lost their lives in a suspected 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 occurred on Tuesday afternoon.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the soldiers, alongside members of the vigilante group, were on a peace mission to a troubled area of the State when they were ambushed and killed by the gunmen.

The chairman of Toto local government area, Abdullahi Aliyu Tashas, confirmed the attack and the casualty figure to our correspondent on Wednesday.

He said the soldiers were deployed to maintain peace in the area following attacks on communities by the militia group when they were allegedly attacked and killed by the same 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 laid ambush on them and killed three soldiers on Tuesday afternoon,” the local government chairman alleged.

He said the corpses of the soldiers have been recovered and handed over to the representatives of the military authorities, 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 added.

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

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

The Toto local government area council chairman said the spate of attacks necessitated the deployment of the military men to the area.

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