In a tragic incident in Zamfara State, gunmen suspected to be bandits have claimed the life of a Nigerian soldier attached to the 4SF Command in Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
The soldier, travelling with a colleague, fell victim to the attackers along Gusau Road last week, while en route to Zamfara State in a commercial bus.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the assailants targeted the soldiers, who were on leave to visit their families in Zamfara.
Tragically, one soldier was fatally shot, allegedly for resisting the bandits, while the other was abducted, along with other passengers.
The family of the abducted soldier has been contacted by the kidnappers, who have demanded a staggering ransom of N100 million for his safe return. An audio recording obtained by Newsmen confirms the ransom demand, shedding light on the gravity of the situation.
Zamfara State, like many others in the Northern region, has been grappling with the menace of banditry for years. Criminal gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, terrorize villages, perpetrate heinous acts of violence and instill fear among residents.
Despite efforts by authorities to curb their activities, the gangs continue to operate with impunity, establishing camps in Zamfara and neighbouring states such as Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger.
The situation is exacerbated by the frequent abduction of students from schools, adding to the already dire security challenges faced by the region.
Despite previous peace agreements between the state government and the gunmen, attacks on communities persist, resulting in loss of lives, destruction of property, and widespread fear among the populace.
The tragic incident underscores the urgent need for comprehensive security measures to address the escalating violence perpetrated by criminal elements in Zamfara and beyond.
As the abducted soldier’s family awaits his safe return, authorities face mounting pressure to tackle the root causes of insecurity and restore peace to the embattled region.
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