Bandits gun down soldiers in Kebbi

Some soldiers lost their lives in a gun duel with bandits in Zuru emirate of Kebbi State.

Some soldiers lost their lives in a gun duel with bandits in Zuru emirate of Kebbi State.

The Kebbi State Government revealed this when the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, visited Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, on Wednesday.

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The killing of the soldiers happened a day after about 63 members of the vigilante group known as Yan-Sa-Kai, were massacred in Zuru.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Babale Yauri, who briefed the minister, did not give the number of the soldiers killed.

He added that the government was making a frantic effort to tackle the insecurity bedeviling the southern part of the state.

He said, “In fact, only last three days, we lost about 65 vigilantes members. And even yesterday, we lost some military officers engaging with them.

“The issue of banditry was formerly a casual thing in Kebbi but in view of what is currently happening in Zamfara, the bandits are facing a serious challenge from the military, therefore, forced to come into Kebbi especially, the southern part of Kebbi.”

In his response, the Minister said he was in the state on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, to condole with the government and people of Kebbi State over the recent killing of members of vigilante in the state.

Onyeama said the President urged the state to stand firm in dealing with the challenges of the banditry.

“There will be no retreat and we will not be bound with the challenges of banditry and terrorists in the northern states,” he said.