Bandit terrorists set fire to four military trucks after Nigerian troops were forced to abandon a planned ambush in Zurmi, ZamfaraState. The trucks, known as Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, were valued at over N1 billion each and were left behind by the troops along with a cache of arms and ammunition.
The attack, led by notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, occurred after Nigerian military forces attempted to intercept the group based on intelligence they had received. According to security sources, the military learned that Turji and his fighters were planning to hold a meeting in the forest. In response, the troops mobilized two MRAP vehicles to launch an ambush.
However, the mission quickly went awry when the first two MRAP trucks got stuck in a muddy, waterlogged area. In an attempt to salvage the situation, two more MRAP trucks were sent to assist, but they also became immobilized in the same terrain. With visibility poor and the vehicles trapped, the soldiers decided to abandon the mission and return to base.
“It is unfortunate that the second two trucks also stuck in the mud as they reached the muddy, waterlogged terrain. In that situation, coupled with poor visibility, they abandoned the trucks and returned back to base,” said a security insider who spoke to DAILY NIGERIAN.
The source expressed concern over the troops’ decision to leave behind not only the trucks but also the arms and ammunition.
“It is sad that they only took their personal rifles and fled the scene. The ideal response to a situation of this nature is for the troops to destroy the trucks and all the arms before they left the scene, but they failed to do that,” the source added.
In a video released by the bandits on Saturday, Turji and his fighters can be seen celebrating their victory as they looted the abandoned ammunition before setting the military vehicles on fire. The video has since sparked outrage and concern over the growing boldness of bandit groups in the region.
As of the time of this report, the Nigerian military has not officially commented on the incident, leaving many questions unanswered about the state of security in Zamfara and the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to combat banditry in the area.
The destruction of the MRAP trucks and the loss of arms to the bandits represent a significant setback in the fight against terrorism in Zamfara State, a region that has been plagued by violence and insecurity for years. The incident underscores the challenges faced by the Nigerian military in their efforts to maintain control in these areas, particularly in difficult terrains where movement and visibility can be severely compromised.