Armed assailants launched an assault on a military camp situated in Nahuta village, northwest Nigeria, resulting in the retreat of troops, vehicle arson, and subsequent looting of shops and homes, according to a resident and two undisclosed sources on Monday.
The attack unfolded late on Sunday at the military base, which houses soldiers, police, and other security personnel, located in the Batsari local government area of Katsina state, as reported by resident Isa Bello to media.
Abubakar Sadiq, the spokesperson for Katsina police, has not yet responded to inquiries for comments.
Referred to as “bandits” by locals, heavily armed groups have wrought havoc in Nigeria’s northwest over the past three years, engaging in kidnappings, causing numerous fatalities, and rendering certain areas unsafe for travel and farming.
Bello recounted that the bandits, arriving on motorcycles and a truck around 2200 GMT, prevailed over the military forces after a three-hour exchange of gunfire.
A security source revealed that the attackers set vehicles and other property ablaze within the camp before proceeding to Nahuta village. There, they engaged in looting, stealing goods and livestock valued at millions of naira.
While a Katsina state government official confirmed the absence of casualties in the village, sources and the official, who preferred anonymity, emphasized their lack of authorization to speak to the media.
The assault on the military camp has instigated widespread panic among Nahuta residents, prompting many to seek refuge in nearby villages, according to Bello.
