No fewer than two soldiers were reportedly killed, while several others sustained injuries, after a military vehicle conveying troops to Bargaja community in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State struck an improvised explosive device (IED).
The troops were said to be heading to the community in response to a distress call following a bandit invasion that occurred in the early hours of Saturday.
Residents said armed bandits stormed the village between 12:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., firing gunshots and causing panic among residents who subsequently sought military assistance.
One resident, who requested anonymity, alleged that the attackers planted an explosive device along the Isa-Bargaja road before the arrival of security personnel.
“They were on their way to rescue us when the vehicle hit the explosive. Many soldiers were affected. One of the soldiers involved in the incident later ran into our village seeking help after the explosion,” he said, adding that the soldier sustained serious injuries on his leg.
The resident explained that the blast occurred on the road connecting Isa and Bargaja, expressing concern over what he described as the growing use of explosive devices by bandits operating in the area.
“We have seen the bodies of two soldiers, but we cannot say whether there were more casualties,” he said, calling on the authorities to take urgent measures to address the security situation.
Another resident said members of the community travelled to Isa town to sympathise with the military following the incident.
“We hired two vehicles from our community and went to Isa to condole with the military over the loss of their personnel,” he said.
According to him, three soldiers, including a driver, may have lost their lives in the attack, while another victim suffered severe injuries from the explosion.
He added that the bodies of the deceased soldiers were later evacuated to Sokoto.
A separate source familiar with developments in the area alleged that the troops were ambushed while responding to the distress call.
The source claimed that the attackers allowed an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) leading the convoy to pass before directing gunfire and detonating an explosive device against a Hilux vehicle following behind.
“The APC was at the front and was allowed to pass. The attackers then opened fire and detonated an explosive device targeting the Hilux behind it,” the source alleged.
The source further disclosed that one security operative reportedly fled into a nearby forest during the attack and that efforts were underway to locate and rescue him.
He added that residents, security personnel and the attackers exchanged gunfire throughout the night, heightening tension across the area.
“We never slept yesterday because of the sound of gunfire. I can’t confirm the exact number of the casualties. Wait till after we gathered the accurate information about the incident,” the source said.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation from military authorities regarding the incident.
Efforts to obtain comments from the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him were not returned.
Similarly, attempts to reach the Chairman of Isa Local Government Area, Sharehu Abubakar Kamarawa, yielded no response, as his telephone lines were unreachable and messages sent to him were not acknowledged before press time.
(DAILY TRUST)
