Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed no fewer than three soldiers and two vigilantes in Katapka community in the Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

It was gathered that the soldiers and the vigilantes were killed by bandits during an attack on the community on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.

It was learnt that the military personnel were in the Local Government Area to restore normalcy following the killing of three persons in the Katapka and Okudu communities in the area on February 1.

The bandits, however, launched an attack on them on Tuesday afternoon, killing three soldiers and two vigilantes.

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The incident was confirmed by the Chairman of Toto LGA, Abdullahi Aliyu-Tashas, on Wednesday, February 7.

Aliyu-Tashas, who described the killing of the soldiers as unfortunate, said: “The suspected bandits laid ambush on the military personnel who were on patrol to maintain law and order in the area and killed three of them.

“Katakpa community had been recently attacked, and as a result of that, the soldiers were drafted to Katakpa to maintain law and order, but they were unfortunately killed in an ambush on Tuesday afternoon.”

He added that the Nasarawa State Government had taken over the matter and was making efforts to handle the situation.

The council chairman said more security operatives had been deployed to the area in order to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

The Nigerian Army has however yet to speak on the incident as of press time.

The Star