By John Ikani
A soldier has been reported killed and four persons abducted by bandits who attacked Milgoma, a community near the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The soldier was said to have sustained an injury during a gun duel with the attackers and later died at an undisclosed hospital as a result of the injuries.
Those kidnapped by the gunmen included a woman, her daughter, and two sons.
In an interview on Tuesday, the Secretary of Milgoma community simply identified as Sani, told newsmen that the bandits invaded the area in large numbers at about 9pm on Monday.
He said they went straight to the residence of a male lecturer working with the Kaduna State University, with the intention to kidnap him.
According to Sani, soldiers attached to the area responded to a distress call from the residents and swiftly moved to the scene.
He explained that on sighting the security operatives, the bandits immediately engaged them in a fierce gun battle.
One of the soldiers, who advanced to the residence of the lecturer, was said to have been shot by the gunmen who already laid an ambush around the compound.
The security operative was later rushed to a hospital where he was reported to have died.
Sani stated that the soldiers were able to stop the bandits from kidnapping the lecturer.
He said the gunmen later moved to another location within the community where they took away the woman and her three children.
Kaduna at the centre of nationwide insecurity
The spate of insecurity across Nigeria has witnessed taken a brutal toll on security personnel.
Barely three days ago, gunmen attacked a military base in Kaduna state, killing no fewer than 12 officers and injuring others.
It was gathered that the bandits attacked the Forward Operating Base in Mutumji, Dansadau Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
The military base is about 80 kilometres south of the capital, Gusau.
It was learnt that the 12 fatalities comprise nine Nigerian Air Force officers, two Police officers, and one Nigerian Army personnel.
Also, its been barely a month since unknown gunmen attacked the Nigerian Defence Academy NDA in Kaduna where they killed two officers and abducted a major.
