The Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Samaila Yombe has narrated how bandits opened fire on his convoy in Kanya village of Zuru emirate in the state.
According to the retired senior military officer, the bandits disguised themselves as members of the community making it difficult to confront them.
Yombe said he went to Kanya village on Tuesday in the company with the 223 Battalion commanding officer.
He added that his mission was to assess the level of assistance given to security agencies in the state by the state government.
The deputy governor said when his convoy arrived in the village, they got security reports that the bandits were already mixed with members of the community.
“When we arrived yesterday (Tuesday) at Kanya, we got reports that the bandits mixed up with the inhabitants of Kanya,” he said.
“So, it was difficult to have fought the bandits in the midst of the people because the collateral damage would have been much.
“We then adopted a strategy to move out of the town so that they would follow us. In the process, because we were both vulnerable, both sides recorded casualties.”
Yombe added, “I doff my cap for the soldiers at Zuru Battalion who were few compared to the number of the bandits.
“From the gunshots, you will assume they were 200 or 250 bandits. And the soldiers were a unit of about 30 troops, escorting the commanding officer.
“In terms of strength, the soldiers were overwhelmed. It was impossible for the troops to manoeuvre but they were able to disengage from the bandits to safer ground.”
However, when he was asked to disclose the number of casualties on the side of the government, he declined, saying “No, I cannot disclose the number. It is against the ethics of the profession.”
