Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Seven soldiers and 22 farmers were killed in a gunfight between troops of Operation Hadarin Daji and bandits near Kangon Garucci in Dangulbi district in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State. “While some of the residents were killed after they were trapped while working on their farmlands, some of them were caught in a crossfire between soldiers and criminals.

“The attack was led by one Ali Kawajo, Damina and another bandits’ leader called ‘Black.’ Black has enslaved the majority of the farmers in the area as he frequently asks them to work on his farmlands,” said a resident, Sani Baba. The spokesman of Operation Hadarin Daji, Captain Ibrahim Yahaya, could not be reached for comments at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, troops of Sector 1 Operation Hadarin Daji in conjunction with troops deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wanke in Gusau LG have killed at least seven bandits. The Commander of the Joint Task Force, North-West, Operation Hadarin Daji, Major General Godwin Mutkut commended the troops for their bravery and resilience in dealing with the bandits.

Terrorists killed dozens and displaced hundreds in four states over the weekend, including Niger and Kuchi. Residents of the affected communities reported that attackers rode on motorcycles and operated unchallenged before attacking residents. DSP Wasiu Abiodun kept sealed lips, but State Commissioner for Local Government Emmanuel Umar confirmed the attack. Security operations are ongoing and people are still on the run. The four camps of Abdulkarim and Dankarami were attacked by more than 1500 bandits, looting everything and setting places on fire. The attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday, with eleven people confirmed killed and some inflicted with gunshot injuries. Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has ordered that bandits should be classified as terrorists.