‘Repentant Bandits’ Reportedly Kill Eight Soldiers In Kaduna 

No fewer than eight Nigerian Army personnel have been reportedly confirmed dead in Kaduna state following an ambush by repentant bandits in the state.

A relative of one of a slain soldier confirmed the incident on Tuesday via a WhatsApp message, disclosing that the ambush was unleashed on Monday.

According to the source, the families of the deceased soldiers are still mourning and have yet to receive official notification from the Nigerian Army authorities.

“Yes, I can confirm the killing of eight soldiers, including my brother, by the so-called ‘repentant’ bandits in Kaduna State,” the source was quoted as saying.

He added that, according to preliminary information available to him, the bandits were en route to attack communities located along the Kaduna River between Chikun and Igabi Local Government Areas, several kilometres from the Kaduna Train Bridge, when they came into contact with troops.

“The troops came into contact with the bandits and lost one officer and seven other soldiers during the encounter,” he said.

The source added that about a week earlier, the same group of so-called repentant bandits allegedly ambushed troops at a different location in Kaduna State, killing one soldier and leaving a military commander with serious injuries.

The injured commander is currently undergoing medical treatment.

The latest attack has reignited concerns over the effectiveness of the government's non-kinetic strategy for tackling insecurity in Kaduna State. Authorities have consistently promoted dialogue, reconciliation and rehabilitation programmes for bandits said to have surrendered as part of efforts to restore peace.