Three soldiers and seven vigilantes have been killed in Wanka community, Keram district of Kanam local government area of Plateau State.

Residents told Daily Trust that the incident occurred around 5:30 pm, on Friday. The bandits reportedly invaded the village shooting sporadically.

The residents added that several bandits also lost their lives in the incident.

Gambo Musa, a resident, told Daily Trust that two army captains were among the victims.

Narrating the incident, Musa said, “The residents of the attacked community had been living with bandits for some time. The bandits virtually control the area because they used to come and do whatever they like and leave without pursuing the residents out of the community.

“So, on Friday morning, security personnel under the command of two captains stormed the community, engaged the bandits, and killed several of them while others fled. Hours after the incident, and even before the soldiers left, the bandits regrouped from the nearby bushes, attacked and engaged the soldiers and the vigilantes working with the security, leading to casualties from both sides. Many bandits have also lost their lives, “ Musa said.

Ibrahim Ubale, another resident of the area, described the attack as terrible, explaining that “the bandits were well equipped, giving them the opportunity to confront the security personnel and the vigilantes. The engagement lasted for several minutes. But we are yet to ascertain if other residents were affected.”

Contacted, the spokesperson of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycap Oteh, didn’t respond to calls and SMS by our correspondent as at press time.

Our correspondent reports that several villages in Wase and Kanam, which share a border, have consistently witnessed bandit attacks.

Last month, the Nigerian Army had deployed 300 soldiers to the area to counter bandit attacks, kidnappings, and other criminal activities in the areas.