Bandits Attack Air Force Patrol In Zamfara, Kogi Assembly

• Unknown gunmen suspected to be bandits have attacked the Air Force patrol team in Zamfara Stated and the Kogi State House of Assembly Complex.

Suspected bandits, during the week, went on the rampage, attacking at least two hallowed institutions in the country: the Kogi State House of Assembly Complex; and the Nigerian Air Force in Zamfara State, EKO HOT BLOG has gathered.

In Zamfara State, bandits attacked a patrol team of Operation Hadarin Daji, comprising operatives of the Nigerian Air Force and Police Special Forces, in the Bundugu area of the state.

An encounter between the troops and the bandits left two security operatives, a police inspector and a NAF operative identified as James Okpu, dead. Seven bandits were also reportedly killed during the gun duel.

It was learnt that the incident occurred at a time the no-fly zone directive ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari to curtail the activities of bandits in the state was still in force.

Okpu’s family and friends have since taken to social media to mourn him.

His brother, Maro Okpu, who posted the pictures of the deceased, wrote, “Why now, brother? You never planned to ‘let go’ in such a hard way. (You are) always in our heart, kid brother. Rest on.”

Another family member simply identified as Paul also wrote on Facebook, “Gone too soon, my own James Azabanabhelam Egbogba Okpu.”

Meanwhile, one of Okpu’s relatives, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a military officer close to the family first broke the news to him.

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According to Punch, the relative claimed that the commander of the deceased’s unit later called to commiserate with the bereaved family.

When contacted, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed that a patrol team of Operation Hadarin Daji was attacked by bandits at Bundugu in Zamfara State.

Gabkwet said the troops killed seven bandits but lost two personnel, including a NAF operative.

Meanwhile, Gabkwet debunked reports that armed men attacked the Air Force base in Kaduna on Saturday.

He said this in a statement titled, ‘No attempted attack on NAF Base in Kaduna.’

In a related development, bandits on Friday raided the Kogi State House of Assembly Complex and carted away property worth millions of naira.

The Speaker of the Kogi House of Assembly, Mr Matthew Kolawole, who confirmed the incident, said, “Some armed bandits invaded the Assembly on Friday and made away with armoured cables, TV sets, and other office valuables.”

The Speaker expressed concern over the development, saying the bandits’ invasion had exposed the porous security at the complex.

“Security men attached to the Assembly Complex should sit up in the discharge of their duty or would be made to face interrogation over their lapses in the protection of lives and property at the House of Assembly Complex,” Kolawole warned.

The Speaker further appealed to security agencies in the state to ensure the arrest of the assailants to avert future occurrence.

He, however, expressed joy that no life was lost during the attack.

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