Terrorists, Nigerian Troops Exchange Fire In Northwest Nigeria For 5 Hours
The troops were reportedly on a rescue mission in Zamfara, Northwest Nigeria, when the exchange occurred.
For about five hours on Sunday, July 4, 2021, a terror group and a detachment of the Nigerian Army were locked in a fierce gun battle after the terrorists blocked a Federal Highway along Zamfara-Kebbi border in the Northwest Nigeria.
Security sources informed HumAngle that the military troop was on a rescue mission when it ran into the terrorists who had blocked the road at about 6:10 p.m., denying road users passage access in-between Zugu, Gadar-Zaima, and Maga villages in Zuru and Bukuyum Local Government Areas of Zamfara and Kebbi states, both in Northwest Nigeria.
However, the gun duel between the terrorists and the troop lasted till about 10:29 p.m., according to eyewitnesses.
Husaini Muhammad Kokani who was on transit from Gummi to Maga for a visit to his daughter studying at Comprehensive Girls Secondary School Maga, was among commutters intercepted by the terrorists on the highway.
Kokani said “two soldiers among the troops of the Nigeria Army were injured and rushed to the hospital.”
But it was not immediately clear the number of casualties on the part of the terrorists who were reported to be moving a large herd of cattle they rustled from different communities when they encountered the soldiers.
Kokani said “it was not possible for the passengers and vehicles to cross the border during the blockage.”
“The blockage by the terrorists was to enable them to cross the federal highway with the thousands of herds of cattle they rustled from the Northwestern axis.”
Murtala Zugu, a resident of Zugu town said “we heard loud sound of gunshots coming from Zugu-Gadar Zaima directions and they were loud enough to make anyone deaf if they stayed nearby.”
“All the motorists stopped at Zugu, Gardar Zaima and Maga villages as the soldiers took charge of the battle,” Zugu added.
Another eyewitness who did not want his name in print, said “there was a prompt reinforcement by heavily armed ‘Yansakai from Zuru Emirate numbering about two hundred backing up the troops of the Army.”
As of the time of this report, there was no official statement from the military authorities on the incident.
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