Suspected bandits on Tuesday night reportedly killed two Niger Republic military personnel known as Gendarmes in an ambush in the Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Sources revealed that the incident occurred when the suspected bandits crossed over from Jibia to Niger Republic, to rustle cattle.
It was learnt that the Gendarmes who were alerted of the movements of the suspected bandits pursued them (the suspected bandits) back to Jibia.
Sources added that the suspected bandits, however, laid ambush for the military personnel in Jibia, leading to exchange of gunfire which led to the death of the two Gendarmes.
Residents also revealed that the suspected bandits allegedly set ablaze a vehicle belonging to the military personnel and went away with another one.
A member of Katsina State House of Assembly representing Jibia, Mustapha Yusuf, confirmed the incident on Wednesday.
Yusuf said, “The gunmen went into Niger Republic and rustled cows, and the security operatives there went after them with the intention of recovering the stolen animals.
“But they were ambushed by the gunmen and two military personnel lost their lives in the process.
“The bandits also went away with one of the military vehicles.
“The security situation is far more than what the Niger Republic military had thought it was. They reckoned it was something they could deal with.
“We are frustrated and worried about the security situation in the area as situations like this one occurs on frequent basis.”
It was further learnt that a reinforcement of military personnel were later deployed from Niger Republic Tuesday night to battle the suspected bandits.
The spokesman for the Katsina Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, said the command had yet to be informed about the incident.
