Bandits kill soldier, pregnant woman, abduct 15 residents

Suspected bandits have killed a soldier, a local hunter and a pregnant woman during attacks in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, in which they abducted more than 15 residents.

The attacks reportedly occurred around 4 p.m. on Tuesday in Kuka Sarkin Yamma and Ruwan-Zafi communities, barely two weeks after scores of residents were killed in Binnari community in the same local government area.

A community stakeholder from Ruwan-Zafi, Tanko Bobo, said security personnel and local hunters pursued the attackers in an attempt to rescue the abducted residents but came under heavy gunfire.

Mr Bobo said the confrontation resulted in the deaths of a soldier and a local hunter, while some of the abducted residents were rescued.

He added that the attackers also killed a pregnant woman during the invasion of Ruwan-Zafi.

“The bandits once again attacked our communities and picked 15 persons. While the military and local hunters were going after them to rescue the abductees, one soldier and a local hunter were killed.

“They were able to rescue a few persons from the bandits’ hands,” he said.

Mr Bobo expressed concern over the recurring attacks, saying residents were increasingly becoming helpless as insecurity continued to threaten communities in the area.

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He said the latest incident had further heightened fear among residents, coming barely 12 days after the deadly attack on Binnari, where at least 52 people were reportedly killed.

“Everybody is living in fear now. We thought the incident of last week had come and gone, but unfortunately, it has happened again. We are becoming helpless here in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area,” he added.

The renewed violence comes amid efforts by the Taraba State Government to strengthen security operations across the state.

Governor Agbu Kefas visited the newly established 10 Division of the Nigerian Army on Tuesday as part of efforts to reinforce security collaboration.

However, the Taraba State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the latest attack as of the time of filing this report.

The command’s spokesperson, Victor Mshelizah, could not be reached by phone for comment.