A lieutenant and six soldiers of the Nigerian Army have been killed after terrorists ambushed troops on an operational patrol in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
As gathered, the troops were carrying out operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and bandit hideouts within forested areas when they came under attack.
A military source disclosed on Thursday that the soldiers had earlier conducted successful clearance operations that led to the elimination of several terrorist fighters, including some of their commanders.
According to the source, the troops encountered the ambush while returning from the mission, as heavily armed terrorists launched a surprise assault on their convoy.
The attack triggered an intense gun battle, with the soldiers putting up stiff resistance and inflicting casualties on the attackers despite being outnumbered.
However, a lieutenant and six soldiers were killed during the exchange, while their identities had yet to be officially released as of the time of filing this report.
“This was a determined assault on the troops, but they fought courageously and inflicted significant damage on the attackers before suffering casualties,” the source said.
Although the military had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, the source revealed that reinforcement teams had been deployed to the area to support ongoing operations.
The source added that troops were continuing efforts to track down those responsible for the attack and prevent further assaults within the area.
The latest incident comes amid sustained operations by security agencies across Kaduna State and neighbouring states to combat terrorism, tackle banditry and improve security along major highways and vulnerable communities.