Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Sama’ila Yombe Dabai, has narrated his ordeal following the galling ambush of his entourage by armed bandits on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, in Kanya, Waje District of Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of the State, killing and injuring many.
The governor in an audio interview obtained by Channels Television, hinted on the daredevilry by ruthless bandits, who had stormed the area with high-grade weapons, having mingled with villagers in the crooked bid to conceal identity.
Recounting his ordeal, he said, “The bandits mixed up with the inhabitants of Kanya in such a way that it is difficult to differentiate and fight them. So, I advised my security team that we pull them out of the community so that we could pull them along and separate them from the inhabitants.
“The bandits were equipped with PSA AK-P and much heavier calibre weapons than AK-47. Despite this, the soldiers stoop up and matched them.
“I doff my cap for the soldiers at Zuru Battalion who were few compared to the number of the terrorists.
“From the gunshots, you will assume they were 200 or 250 terrorists. And the soldiers were a unit of about 30 troops, escorting the commanding officer.”
Although the deputy governor did not disclose the casualty figures, he commended the brave efforts of the 223 Battalion and vigilante groups in warding off the sudden attack, which could have unleashed graver harm if not for their intervention.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on New Media, Atom Turba, in a statement on Wednesday night, said the security aide attached to the Deputy Governor, ASP Idris Libata, alongside 18 other military personnel, were killed during the assault.
He noted that the bandits had attacked when the deputy governor was in the company of their Commanding officer of 223 Battalion, Zuru, who was returning from a visit to various military formations.
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