Terrorists ambushed Nigerian military and police officers in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Tuesday night, killing several personnel and two civilians.
The attack unfolded in the Giro Masa community after residents spotted the terrorists moving through the village and heading towards a construction company yard.
Locals quickly alerted security forces, who rushed to the scene.
Yet the terrorists struck first, catching the joint patrol off guard and opening fire en route.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and terrifying.
One resident, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, recalled how the terrorists entered the area and targeted the responding troops.
“People were running in all directions as the terrorists fired at the soldiers and set the trucks ablaze,” the resident said.
During the fierce exchange, the attackers burned two military gun trucks before melting away into the surrounding bush.
The exact number of security personnel killed remains unclear, but sources confirmed at least two community members lost their lives in the crossfire.
As of Wednesday morning, security authorities had yet to issue any official statement on the incident or the casualties.
Meanwhile, residents expressed deep fear, with many wondering how the terrorists managed to operate so boldly in the area despite ongoing patrols.
Shanga Local Government Area, like other parts of Kebbi State, has faced repeated attacks by armed groups in recent years.
These incidents often target both security forces and civilians, with the attackers exploiting remote terrain to launch hit-and-run operations before vanishing into forests or hard-to-reach zones.
Security agencies continue joint operations to restore calm, but challenges with intelligence and difficult landscapes make full control elusive.
