11 soldiers killed as bandits attack Nigerian villages

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria

At least 11 soldiers were reportedly killed and several civilians injured by bandits in northwestern Nigeria early Wednesday, according to security sources.

Samuel Aruwan, spokesman for Kaduna state’s governor, confirmed that security officials were killed in attacks on the villages of Doka and Maganda in Birnin Gwari, but gave no figures.

“Governor Nasir El-Rufai received with sadness reports of bandit attacks in Doka and Maganda. He praised the communities for their vigilance and their cooperation with the military to thwart the attacks,” said the statement.

Three senior security officials told Anadolu Agency that 11 soldiers died in the incident early Wednesday.

“Apart from the 11 soldiers killed, nine members of local vigilante groups were critically injured in the attack,” said a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions of talking to the media.

“These attacks were apparently some sort of reprisals following the killing of a kidnapping kingpin Buharin Daji.”

The source said the bandits first attacked the security post at Doka where soldiers on anti-kidnapping operations were shot dead in a surprise raid.

“They had earlier attacked Maganda, where they shot nine members of the vigilante group who work with Operation Karamin Goro."