Gunmen Kill Three Soldiers, Kidnap Chinese In Nigerian Volatile North

Gunmen have killed three soldiers in the volatile northern part of the country.The attack happened in Yakila Village, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger, a North Central state of the country. The unknown gunmen, suspected to be some of the bandits terrorizing the area, also killed one member of a vigilante group.

The recent attack also led to the kidnap of a Chinese expatriate who was said to be with his drivers (also kidnapped) inspecting work on the construction site in Yakila. The attackers were said to have overrun the village in a convoy of motorcycles.
Eye witness account indicates that the Chinese expatriate whose name could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report was kidnapped alongside his driver by the gunmen numbering about thirty.
The source who pleaded anonymity said both the soldiers and vigilante members were at Yakila to rescue the Chinese expatriate and his driver but unknown to them that the bandits laid an ambush for them and they subsequently died while exchanging gunshot with the bandits.

Two motorcycles were seen inside the Hilux vehicle with one that was arrested whose face was tied with cloth, the source said, adding however that some corpses of the attackers suspected to be that of the bandits were also sighted in the bush but could not give the exact number.
The bandits, said to be heavily armed, were riding in a convoy of about fifteen motorcycles with some of them carrying their members, took the Chinese and his driver, and disappeared into the nearby bush.

Meanwhile, the unconfirmed report had it that the body of the Chinese expatriate has been recovered and deposited at the Minna General Hospital mortuary, Tuesday afternoon while his driver is still in the bandits’ captivity.
Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Niger State command, ASP Wasiu Abiodun, to confirm the attacks proved abortive as he refused to pick his calls at the time of filling in this report.