On August 13, at least 21 Nigerian soldiers were killed in an ambush by gunmen believed to be bandits in Kundu, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.
After the deadly ambush, a Nigerian Airforce MI-171 helicopter that was on a casualty evacuation mission also crashed near Chukuba Village in the Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.
Despite claims made by terrorists that they were responsible for the shooting down of the aircraft, the Nigerian Airforce, via a short but formal statement made by Edward Gabkwet, its spokesperson, said it crashed.
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This, however, is not the first time the Nigerian military would be ambushed and attacked by terrorists in recent times. Here are other instances:
SHIMFIDA, KATSINA STATE (JULY 2020)
In July 2020, 16 soldiers were ambushed and killed by terrorists in Shimfida, Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. 28 other soldiers were also said to have been injured in the attack.
The soldiers, who were men from the Special Army Super Camp 4, Faskari, Katsina State, were advancing the area on foot when the armed militants opened fire on them from a hilltop.
MARKE VILLAGE, ZAMFARA STATE (JULY 2021)
In July 2021, seven soldiers lost their lives in a terrorist ambush in Marke Village, Maiyama Local Government Area, Kebbi State.
The seven slain soldiers were four naval special force personnel and three soldiers from the Nigerian army.
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Aside the seven, five soldiers also suffered gunshot injuries while two others could not be accounted for at the time.
NIGERIAN DEFENCE ACADEMY, KADUNA STATE (AUGUST 2021)
In August 2021, bandits gained access to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Afaka, Kaduna State, and killed two officers.
Apart from the two officers that they killed, the bandits also kidnapped Christopher Datong, a major in the Nigerian Army during the attack.
Within hours of Datong’s abduction, the assailants demanded a N200 million ransom before they would release him. The senior military officer would later be rescued by the Nigerian Army a month after he was kidnapped.
BIRNIN GWARI, KADUNA STATE (APRIL 2022)
In April 2022, 17 soldiers lost their lives after bandits launched an attack on a military base in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State. The gunmen were said to have arrived on motorbikes, carrying RPGs and other weapons.
They overpowered the soldiers they met at the base and looted weapons. After a two-hour long gun battle, the surviving soldiers at the base were eventually forced to flee the facility.
DANSADAU DISTRICT, ZAMFARA STATE (DECEMBER 2022)
Following days of intense aerial and ground duel between the Nigerian military and bandits in Dansadau district, Zamfara State, 13 Nigerian soldiers lost their lives in December 2022.
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The gun battle ensued when the gunmen, numbering more than hundred, stormed the area in an attempt to raid several communities. Many bandits also died during the exchange.
MUNYA, NIGER STATE (MARCH 16, 2023)
On March 16, bandits ambushed a military patrol team in the Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.
After a protracted gun battle, eight soldiers, including a major in the Nigerian Army, lost their lives.
Earlier in the day, both parties had had a separate gun duel that forced the bandits to flee the area. They would later return to the area to carry out the attack.
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KANGON GARACCE, ZAMFARA (JULY 2023)
In July, troops were responding to a distress call about an attack on Kangon Garacce community in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State when they fell into an ambush orchestrated by bandits.
Seven officers of the Nigerian Army were killed during the attack. No fewer than 20 residents of the community were also killed in the incident.
The post Times Nigerian Soldiers Lost Their Lives to Bandit Ambushes in Last 3 Years appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.