Bandits kill soldier, pregnant woman in Taraba, abduct 15

Armed bandits have launched an attack in Taraba State, where a gallant soldier paid the supreme sacrifice alongside a local hunter and a pregnant woman in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area.

The Tuesday night incident has heightened tensions in the region, occurring barely 11 days after a separate massacre claimed dozens of lives.

The attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded Sarkin Yamma village near Jeb-Jeb area, opening fire on residents and security operatives. During the confrontation, another soldier sustained serious gunshot wounds, while the gunmen simultaneously raided nearby Ruwan Zafi village, abducting 15 people, including women and children.

According to Daily Trust, troops and local hunters quickly mobilised to repel the invasion, engaging the bandits with superior firepower. The joint operations forced the attackers to flee in disarray into the surrounding forests, leading to the successful rescue of five kidnapped victims.

Speaking on the security breach, a community leader, Tanko Bobbo Andami, confirmed that 15 residents remain in captivity. He appealed for an urgent deployment of security personnel to prevent further attacks by criminal elements in the region.

“Before the attacks in Binnari town and the latest incident, we had called on the government to secure Karim-Lamido before bandits took over the area. This is where we are now…We still appeal to the Taraba State Government and the Federal Government to pay special attention to the area and provide adequate security”, Andami said.

The Tuesday attack comes on the heels of the October 23 attacks in Binnari town, where gunmen opened fire on a crowded market square, killing approximately 60 people.