No fewer than five residents and one soldier were killed in an attack on Monday by suspected bandits in the Zurak community, Bashar District of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Residents of the area also said three soldiers are missing in a gun battle with the bandits, explaining that the soldiers were among those providing security for the community against incessant bandit and kidnapping activities.
The bandits, before attacking the community, had earlier burnt houses in the Sabon Gari community of the same Bashar District.
Shapi’i Sambo, a youth leader in Wase, confirmed the two attacks to reporters on Tuesday evening, adding that the body of the military officer had been moved to Jos on Tuesday morning.
Jibrin Isa, a resident of Zak, also confirmed the incident, narrating that the bandits attacked the two communities, making it very difficult to be confronted by security guards stationed in the areas.
“The incident happened around 4 pm, and the assailants first attacked the military checkpoint situated in Sabon Gari before moving to the commercial area of the community where they looted the shops and took away food items and other valuable things.
“After attacking Sabon Gari, the bandits later moved to Zurak where they attacked the military checkpoint, killed five residents and one soldier. Three soldiers are still missing”.
Jibrin, who described the attack as devastating, showed the community is deserted as residents have fled to neighbouring villages for fear of the unknown.
The spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven was unavailable for comment, but the military maintains ongoing operations to tackle banditry and kidnapping in Plateau State.
The villages in Wase Local Government have been suffering from bandit and kidnapping attacks for years, resulting in the deaths of many people
