At least two soldiers were reportedly killed and several others injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly exploded on a military vehicle conveying troops to Bargaja community in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The troops were said to be responding to a distress call following a bandit attack on the community in the early hours of Saturday.
Residents told Daily Trust that armed bandits invaded the village between 12:30am and 3:00am, shooting sporadically and forcing residents to seek military intervention.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that the attackers planted an IED along the Isa-Bargaja road before the arrival of the troops.
“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 said the incident occurred on a section of the road linking Isa and Bargaja and expressed concern over what he described as the increasing use of explosive devices by bandits.
“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 who claimed to have visited the military camp in Isa town to condole with the troops said they travelled from Bargaja to sympathise with the soldiers 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.
The source claimed that three soldiers, including a driver, lost their lives in the attack, adding that one of the victims was severely affected by the explosion.
He said the remains of the deceased personnel were later evacuated to Sokoto.
Another source who is familiar with the developments in the area also alleged that the troops came under a coordinated ambush while responding to the distress call from residents.
According to the source, the attackers allowed an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) vehicle leading the convoy to pass before targeting a Hilux vehicle behind it with gunfire and an explosive device.
“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.
He added that one of the security personnel reportedly fled into a nearby forest during the incident and that efforts were ongoing to locate and rescue him.
The source further said residents, security personnel and the attackers were engaged in exchanges throughout the night, creating 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.
Attempts to obtain official confirmation from the military were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Similarly, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, did not respond to call, text and WhatsApp messages seeking comment on the incident.
Efforts to reach the Chairman of Isa Local Government Area, Sharehu Abubakar Kamarawa, were also unsuccessful as his phone lines were unreachable and he did not respond to text and WhatsApp messages sent to him before the filing of this report.
Editor’s note: This picture was used for illustration