In a tragic turn of events, the military commander of an army camp situated in Sabon Garin Dan’Ali, within the Danmusa local government area of Katsina state, has reportedly fallen victim to an ambush. According to sources, the incident occurred on Thursday evening, and the body of the deceased, identified as a major in the army, was transported to a hospital in Katsina.
Daily Trust, citing local sources, disclosed that the commander, whose name is withheld, was ambushed at Malali village in Kankara local government area while responding to a call for reinforcement to repel an attack on the village.
Residents in the area revealed that Malali, situated along Zangon Pawwa road, has fallen under the control of bandits, making it a vulnerable spot for attacks. Despite the commander’s swift response using a Hilux vehicle, as armored personnel carriers (APCs) were reportedly unavailable at the time, he fell victim to his assailants, who targeted and fatally shot him.
During the retrieval of his body, a fierce gun battle ensued between the bandits and military personnel, resulting in another officer sustaining gunshot injuries. Residents recounted alerting security agents of the impending attack, leading to shots fired into the air in an attempt to deter the assailants. However, the bandits remained undeterred, targeting the commander upon his arrival.
Kankara local government has been plagued by relentless banditry, prompting villagers to abandon their communities in search of safety.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Public Relations Officer of the 17 Brigade in Katsina, Oiza Ehinlaidlye, were unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.