A soldier and five locals had been killed as bandits on Monday attacked the Zurak community, Bashar district in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to locals, the whereabouts of three soldiers is still unknown after a gun battle with the attackers. The soldiers were posted there to provide security in the area experiencing persistent banditry and kidnapping.
The attackers had earlier razed down several houses in Sabon Gari community, also in Bashar district, before going to Zurak.
A youth leader in Wase, Shapi’i Sambo, on Tuesday, said the body of the killed soldier was moved to Jos on Tuesday morning.
A resident of Zak community, Jibrin Isa said the gunmen invaded the two communities in large numbers, overwhelming the security personnel stationed in the area to repel them.
He said “the incident happened around 3pm, and the assailants first attacked the military checkpoint in Sabon Gari before moving to the commercial area of the community, where they looted almost all the shops and carted away food items and other valuables.
“After attacking Sabon Gari, the bandits later moved to Zurak, where they also attacked the military checkpoint. During the attack in Zurak, they killed five residents and one soldier. Three soldiers are still missing.”
Jibrin said the attack forced residents of the Zurak community to flee to neighbouring villages for fear of further attacks.
Spokesperson of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain J.A. John, said he would investigate the incident and revert. He had not responded as of press time.
