Gunmen killed 20 people and stole cattle from a village in central Nigeria during a deadly “bandit” attack, a local development group reported on Saturday.
The attack occurred on Friday in Plateau state, one of Nigeria’s central regions, when armed men ambushed soldiers on routine patrol, according to the Kanam Development Association (KADA).
“In the unfortunate exchange of gunfire that followed the ambush, our nation lost brave defenders who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty,” KADA said. Twelve security personnel and eight civilians who had joined them to protect their communities were killed.
According to a BSS report, after the attack, the gunmen raided a nearby village and looted property, including cattle. KADA warned that the assault deepens the hardships for already vulnerable rural communities, which have faced repeated attacks and kidnappings in recent years.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, continues to grapple with an insurgency. The Nigerian army’s efforts to combat escalating radical Islamist violence are complicated by the presence of other armed groups operating in the region.
