An undetermined number of soldiers were killed on Thursday when a military checkpoint close to Zuma Rock, a border between Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was attacked by terrorists.
Sources said the terrorists arrived Zuma rock which is on the axis of Madalla and Suleija along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway at about 8.30pm and took the soldiers by surprise by opening fire from different angles.
While retreating, the bandits who were said to be in several motorbikes reportedly attacked some villages and shops in Madalla and carried foodstuff on their motorbikes before bolting away.
The fighting reportedly caused severe traffic jam as motorists remained trapped on the Abuja-Kaduna highway amidst fear of being caught in the crossfire.
However, it was gathered that the personnel of the Nigerian Army have embarked on a clearance operation after the attack.
The incident was said to have caused gridlock in the area.
It was also gathered that the Mandala-Kaduna road was cordoned off by the men of the Nigerian Army.
A military source who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said, “The terrorists took control of the area for over 30 minutes and kept shooting before heading towards the Kaduna axis of the expressway.”
The Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, didn’t also respond to calls from our correspondent.
The attack comes barely six days after terrorists carried out an ambush attack on a patrol team of presidential guards team along the Bwari- Kubwa road resulting in the death of 6 soldiers and officers following intelligence report that they were planning to attack the Nigerian law school in Bwari.
The attack and other kidnapping incidents have resulted in heightened tension in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with schools closed starting with the management of Federal Government College, Kwali, asking parents to evacuate their children from the school as a result of an attack by bandits in a neighbouring community 24 hours earlier.
recall that the terrorists began the attacks by invading Kuje prison in Abuja with bombs on July 5, 2022, killing an NSCDC officer, blowing open the gates and freeing over 800 inmates including 66 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists commanders and members.
Efforts to get the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, were not successful. – Punch, Vanguard.
