13 Nigerian army soldiers and five men of the Nigerian police have been shot dead by suspected terrorists in a massive gun battle that lasted for three hours on Tuesday night in Kebbi State.
Bandits had on Sunday killed 63 members of local vigilante in Kebbi.
Sources said the gun battle occurred in Kanya, a village in Danko-Wasagu district late Tuesday.
Hundreds of gunmen were said to have invaded the village and were met with fierce resistance by the soldiers and policemen, with local vigilantes supporting the security forces.
AFP quoted security personnel as saying that after the battle, the death toll stood at 19, which included 13 soldiers, five policemen, and one vigilante.
The source added that those injured had been taken to the hospital for treatment.
According to the source, the terrorists overwhelmed the security men because of their large number.
A local resident Musa Arzika, who spoke with AFP said the attackers came on 200 motorcycles with three people riding on a bike and laid siege on the village.
“The bodies of 13 soldiers, five policemen, and one vigilante killed in the fight were taken to Zuru this morning,” he said.
On Sunday, terrorists reportedly shot 63 members of local vigilantes dead in an ambush at Zuru area of Kebbi, Northwest Nigeria.
It was gathered that the incident took place in several towns in Kebbi State near the border with Niger State after an ambush by gunmen on a volunteer raid, which was carried out by gunmen.
A Takita resident told BBC that when the bandits first arrived, they abducted people and animals and that the vigilante people went after them.
“They ambushed and killed about 63 people,” he said.
He said they confirmed the death toll after collecting their bodies for burial.
“The victims are from different parts of the country, including Takita and four other towns,’ he said.
A volunteer leader from Sanci, one of the affected towns, said 63 bodies had been counted from Dabai, Magajiyya, Takita and Rafin Zuru.
The Zuru Local Government Area Volunteer Commander also said that after collecting the bodies, they went to the police station where each side went to retrieve the bodies of their relatives.
“It affects the Zuru region as a whole. Every side has been affected,” he said.
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