The soldiers, who were killed in an ambush by the bandits, were from the 177 Guards Battalion, Shitu Alao Barracks, Keffi, Nasarawa State.

By Mojeed Alabi

Seven Nigerian soldiers were on Monday gruesomely murdered by bandits during a rescue operation in a forest along Mararaba-Udege road in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report.

The soldiers, who were killed in an ambush by the bandits, were from the 177 Guards Battalion, Shitu Alao Barracks, Keffi, Nasarawa State.

According to a reliable source, who does not want to be named for security reasons, the slain soldiers were part of a team of 13 soldiers led into the forest by Felix Kura, a captain.

The soldiers’ mission, the source claimed, was to rescue some residents of the state who were abducted by bandits and taken into the forest.

Out of the 14 military men, PREMIUM TIMES learnt that seven including Mr Kura; Yakubu Bati, a sergeant; Kefas Iliya, a lance corporal, and four others whose identity could not be confirmed as of the time of filing this report, lost their lives.

“As soon as they ran into the ambush and they realised they were being overpowered, Mr Kura was said to have told his colleagues including his “cover” to escape,” the source added.

The authorities of the 177 Guards battalion have informed the families of the slain soldiers of their fate “and signal has been sent to the headquarters,” PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

But the spokesperson to the Nigerian Army, Sagir Musa, a brigadier general, denied knowledge of the development.

“I am not aware. I don’t have that information,” Mr Musa told our reporter on the phone on Thursday.




The late Colonel Felix Kura with his wife, Susan, when he was decorated as a captain in August, 2020

Family confirms officer’s death

An elder brother to the late Mr Kura, Fabian Benjamin, however, confirmed the incident to our reporter on the phone.

A distraught Mr Benjamin expressed bitterness and disappointment at the death of his brother.

He feared that the family is scared to break the news to their.

septuagenarian father, Benjamin Kura, whom he feared may not be strong enough to withstand the shock of the sad news.

Apart from the aged father, Mr Benjamin, the family’s eldest child, also expressed sadness over the fate of his late brother’s young wife, Susan, whom he noted was yet to bear him a child.

He said the late officer was just decorated as a captain in August, 2020.

“My brother read Linguistics at the Benue State University and graduated in 2009. He served in Oyo State in 2010 and joined the Nigerian Army in 2012. He loved the job and was very passionate about it. Some of his commandants even when he was posted to the North East confirmed his bravery and loyalty. I am very depressed right now,” Mr Benjamin told our reporter on the phone.

He said his late brother’s remains will be interred on Tuesday in his home state, Benue.

Failed Mission

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that on Monday the battalion received reports of various abductions along the Mararaba-Udege road and its commander asked Mr Kura to “pull out” alongside 13 other officers to rescue the abductees.

Multiple sources said one of the abductees was a nursing mother whose child was abandoned while the mother was taken.

“Another man was also killed during the operation by the bandits. So no one even knew how many were the victims but only 14 officers were drafted to the scene,” a source said.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the command became worried when communication with the troop was lost and their whereabouts unknown.

The command subsequently sent out about 100 soldiers on a search and rescue mission of the platoon.

“That was how seven bodies were found including the team lead,” another source added.


The late Colonel Felix Kura with his wife, Susan, and a commander when he was decorated as a captain in August, 2020

Kidnapping in Nasarawa

Nasarawa State has in recent times been one of Nigeria’s hotbeds kidnapping, armed robberies and other forms of violence.

Apart from the reported cases along the Mararaba-Udege road, the Deputy Vice-chancellor of Anchor University, Lagos, Johnson Fatokun, was also abducted on his way from Jos, Plateau State capital, to Keffi, on Monday.

Mr Fatokun, a professor of Computational Mathematics, was only released on Wednesday after ransom had been paid.

According to a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES by the university’s assistant registrar, strategy and communications, Sanusi Okesola, Mr Fatokun’s release was “secured after negotiations with his abductors.”

In a telephone conversation, Mr Okesola added that the lecturer was immediately conveyed to Abuja from where he would be flown to Lagos to resume work.

“The professor was not tortured, and he is in high spirit. We only thank everyone including the leadership and members of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, the university community, the Nigerian security operatives and all Nigerians who prayed along with the university,” Okesola told our reporter on the phone.

He added that though N20 million was demanded by the abductors, the ransom paid was not N20 million. He, however, declined to disclose how much was paid.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/438036-exclusive-bandits-kill-seven-soldiers-in-nasarawa.html

Ok o
They keep sacrificing our vibrant men to these blood sucking demons

Damn.... So just 14soldiers were drafted to the operation while over 100 was sent for a search party?? How did the bandit got to know military was on their trail and how come they had a good and accurate Ambush formation with no reported casualty on the Bandit side??

How many soldiers do we have to keep loosing daily bfr some courageous ones in the Army rise to say Enough? tf like we aint even fighting a civil war yet and the number of avoidable military deaths keeps increasing unchecked. The military top officers has really failed Nigerians and their comrades ik how they feel, afterall more n more people keep applying every year. smh

You will not see any Buhari zombie even condemn this , but of it's IPOB now they would have been here calling for invasion

Perhaps killed by the marauders from Futa Jallon again. Dont pardon or reward bandits/terrorists our govt said no.Now it has cost the nation a captain(just promoted last year) & 6 of his men.

177 Guards Battalion that was with us in Ibadan back then? I just pray familiar faces are not involved.God rest your souls soldiers! You died gruesomely with your boots on.So sad! Too bad!

GamalNasser:
You will not see any Buhari zombie even condemn this , but of it's IPOB now they would have been here calling for invasion

That is true especially helinues, Miracle1991 and virginfinder.

Lai Mohammed and Burutai have contrary report to this news ...

"some of his commandants even when he was posted to the North East confirmed his bravery and loyalty"


Na only for Maiduguri dem dey see to confirm Una "bravery and loyalty"

Una dey forbid to be chief of army staff?

When would southern soldiers have sense, boycott the north, if you must go north stay Abuja


Fulani soldiers are in Bayelsa looking for petroleum tankers to extort

He died fighting for a scam country.

So many families been shattered .


Southern army personnels una sorry oooo

Mikecold:
"some of his commandants even when he was posted to the North East confirmed his bravery and loyalty"


Na only for Maiduguri dem dey see to confirm Una "bravery and loyalty"

Una dey forbid to be chief of army staff?

When would southern soldiers have sense, boycott the north, if you must go north stay Abuja


Fulani soldiers are in Bayelsa looking for petroleum tankers to extort

God bless you.
Let they resign enmass

I am sure this my brother maybe part of the unnamed ones brutally murdered by the bandits

Enough of this killing. Nigeria is not worth it please. desert the army now for your own good

Insider job...!
How can all the Soldiers sent to 'rescue' victims of Fulani Jihadists kidnappers be CHRISTIANS only.....??

It's a set up...!

Anago55:
I am sure this my brother maybe part of the unnamed ones brutally murdered by the bandits

Enough of this killing. Nigeria is not worth it please. desert the army now for your own good

Another southerner killed for an Islamic jihad that doesn't concern him

Make Una get sense o,

There is nothing like One Nigeria

It only exist when the north wants to claim your land and mineral resource (you can't claim their gold).

It only exist when the north needs your soldiers and resources to fight their battles like terrorism (but they can't fight your militancy issue)

It only exist when the north wants to corner all the international aids coming to the nation (but only them take the internal poorest of poor aides)

It only exist when they want to use your resources to build a capital for themselves (but they can never allow you be an administrator in the fct)

Bandits or boko haram..? There was a thread here that is talking about boko haram regrouping and setting up base in nasarawa state...all these people branded as bandit are nothing other than boko haram...they just want to change the narrative.. chikena...!!

How come these guys that die mysteriously are either southerners or northern christians and they all have something to do in terms of security.

Patrick Yakowa died as a sitting Christian governor in Kaduna and was killed in a strange plane crash

Alex Badeh a Christian service chief was assassinated like a mere chicken

Tolu Sarah Arotile first female flyer killed

I can go on, there are high profile Islamic Terrorists doing this shadow war

Bandits?? Just call them exactly who they are -- fulani herdsmen!!!

What the Bleep are Buhari's brothers turning Nigeria to for God sake.

No where is safe.
If they fail to do something one day this thing will get to someone in Buhari's cabinet and it is very soon.

This is so heartbreaking

What can i say when bandit are doing whot they have paid for!

Notasyouthink:
That is true especially helinues and virginfinder

Me

Captain or Colonel? Were they not suppose to deploy drones and other hi tech gadgets to track and take out the bandits . Instead of running straight into the waiting hands of their ambush party

bcomputer101:
Gradually Nigeria is becoming a failed country

or a failed nation

VirginFinder:


Me

Yes of course and don't ever lie about that.

Christian soldiers are dying everyday recently a Christian soldier an officer head was blown open this is becoming more of religious war.

Rip

Na wa ooo