Gunmen killed several military and police officers, as well as civilians, in a devastating ambush in the Giro Masa community, Shanga Local Government Area, Kebbi State, late Tuesday night.
The actual number of casualties among security personnel is unknown, but two community members were confirmed deceased, according to local sources, Channels reported.
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers roamed the village and surrounding areas before being apprehended in a construction company yard. Soldiers were deployed to the spot after receiving a tip from homeowners, but they were ambushed on the way.
During the raid, two military weapons vehicles were reportedly set on fire.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as chaotic and deadly.
“The gunmen came into our village and were heading towards the construction company yard. We alerted security personnel, but they were ambushed,” the source said.
Another eyewitness noted the confusion and fear among residents.
“It was terrifying. People were running in all directions as the gunmen fired at the soldiers and set the trucks ablaze,” the resident added.
At the time of filing this report, there had been no official statement from security authorities regarding the incident.
Shanga Local Government Area, like other regions of Kebbi State, has experienced intermittent attacks by armed groups in recent years, targeting both security forces and civilians.
Such occurrences frequently involve ambushes on highways and in rural settlements, with attackers fleeing to forested or difficult-to-reach locations.
Security agencies have repeatedly organized coordinated operations to combat these attacks, but geographical, intelligence, and mobility issues have prevented complete containment.
