A senior Nigerian military officer has been tragically killed in an ambush in Katsina State, marking a severe blow to the military's efforts against banditry in the region. The incident occurred in the vicinity of Malali village, located in the Kankara Local Government Area.
Reports from Daily Trust indicate that the commander from the military camp at Sabon Garin Dan’Ali, in the Danmusa Local Government Area, was responding to a call for reinforcement to counter an attack on the village when he was ambushed. The officer, a major in the Nigerian Army, was traveling in a Hilux vehicle at the time of the attack. It is suggested that the lack of available Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) may have influenced the decision to use a less protected vehicle.
Sources close to the situation described the area as fraught with challenges due to the dominance of bandits along the Zangon Pawwa road. "The commander was committed to providing prompt support during attacks. Unfortunately, he was fatally shot in the head as his vehicle was ambushed," a source reported.
An eyewitness from the area recounted a fierce gunfight between the bandits and military personnel, during which another officer, who was part of the team that retrieved the commander's body, was also wounded.
The body of the deceased commander was subsequently taken to a local hospital in Katsina. The loss has resonated deeply within the military community and highlighted the persistent risks faced by security forces in areas plagued by banditry.
The 17 Brigade's Public Relations Officer in Katsina, Oiza Ehinlaidlye, has not yet provided comments on the incident. Meanwhile, the local populace remains on edge as bandit activities continue to force villagers to abandon their homes, seeking safety from the ongoing violence.
This tragic event underscores the volatile security situation in parts of Katsina and the challenges faced by the Nigerian military in safeguarding these areas against increasingly bold and violent bandit groups.
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