By John Ikani
A group of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers were ambushed and killed by suspected bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.
According to sources, the officers were escorting an expatriate to a mining site in the area when they were ambushed by a large number of bandits.
Seven of the officers were killed instantly, while one was critically injured.
The injured officer, along with the corpses of the deceased, were transported to the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna.
The fate of the expatriate is still unclear.
When contacted, the NSCDC spokesperson in Kaduna, Habeeb Badamasi, did not confirm any casualties, stating that the command would provide more details when they become available.
“We have nothing to report for now. We will give you details tomorrow once it is ready,” Badamasi told local news medium The Cable.
Abubakar Kakangi, a resident of the area, told newsmen that bandits attacked two nearby communities and killed several NSCDC officers, soldiers, police operatives, and vigilantes.
According to him, the gunmen attacked Kubau and Unguwan Zakara village, adding that the attackers had earlier entered into an agreement with the residents on “authorised” farming areas.
What you should know
Banditry is a problem in many rural areas of Nigeria, particularly in the northwest and north-central regions of the country. The bandits are often armed with weapons such as AK-47 rifles and operate in groups, engaging in criminal activities such as kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling, and robbery.
These criminal groups have been known to target both civilians and government officials, and their attacks can be indiscriminate and violent. They have been known to kill people, including women and children, who refuse to cooperate with them or who try to resist their demands. They also engage in extortion, demanding money or goods from local businesses, and disrupting the local economy in the process.
The Nigerian government has taken various measures to combat banditry in the country. However, lack of efficient strategies, poor equipment and Corruption are some factors that have hindered the ability of the Nigerian government to effectively deal with the issue of banditry in the country.
It’s also worth mentioning that there is a strong link between banditry and other forms of violence in Nigeria, such as the insurgency in the northeastern part of the country, which is led by the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, and communal conflicts between farmers and herders. In many cases, bandits are able to take advantage of the insecurity and lack of government presence in these areas to operate with relative impunity.
