A soldier has been killed in a gun battle with bandits in Manja village of Plateau state.
Sources told Zagazola
Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, that the soldier, identified
as Yusuf Zakari, a lance corporal, was killed while troops were repelling an
attack on the village.
Makama said troops deployed as a blocking force came under
heavy gunfire from armed assailants advancing through Manja forest on July 26.
The troops had been positioned to prevent the attackers from
infiltrating Manja community, which according to Makama has witnessed repeated
security threats linked to farmer-herder conflicts in recent months.
“At about 1:25 p.m. on July 26, the troops made contact with
the advancing Fulani bandits, triggering a prolonged and intense exchange of
fire,” Makama said.
“Despite putting up a determined resistance, Lance Corporal
Zakari was reportedly ambushed during the battle and was fatally wounded while
defending his comrades and the civilian population.
“In a further tragic development, the attackers seized the
deceased soldier’s personal weapon before withdrawing from the scene.
“Reinforcements from Sector 9 have since been deployed to
the area to reinforce the troops and launch follow-up operations aimed at
tracking down the attackers and recovering the stolen weapon.
“According to preliminary intelligence available to security
agencies, the assailants are believed to comprise a combination of Fulani
militias from Plateau State and armed bandits from neighbouring Nasarawa State.
“The assessment, however, remains subject to further
verification as investigations and intelligence gathering continue.”
Makama said military authorities had activated intelligence
networks and intensified search operations to trace the attackers, who are
believed to have retreated into surrounding forests after the encounter.
The publication said the death of Zakari illustrates the
burden borne daily by Nigerian soldiers deployed to troubled communities.
Makama reported that in Plateau and other conflict zones,
troops have repeatedly found themselves caught between violent attacks by armed
Fulani bandits and hostility from sections of the communities they are deployed
to protect, with incidents of soldiers being assaulted, stoned and, in some
cases, killed while trying to restore peace.
“Yet, despite these dangers, they continue to stand on the
frontlines, often making the ultimate sacrifice to shield innocent civilians
regardless of ethnic or religious identity,” Makama said.
“The presence of soldiers often represents the only barrier
between communities and heavily armed attackers seeking to unleash violence on
innocent civilians.
“The young soldier did not survive the battle, his actions,
alongside those of his colleagues, helped frustrate the attackers’ attempt to
overrun Manja community, preventing what could have resulted in far greater
loss of civilian lives.
“As pursuit operations continue, Operation Enduring Peace
high command have vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice and sustain
pressure on all armed groups threatening peace and stability across Plateau
State.”
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