Three soldiers were killed in a suspected ambush by a militia group in the Katakpa town of Toto local government area in Nasarawa state.
The militia also killed two vigilantes during the ambush on Tuesday afternoon.
According to media reports, the troops, together with members of the vigilante organization, were on a peace mission to a problematic area of the state when they were ambushed and slain by gunmen.
Abdullahi Aliyu Tashas, the chairman of Toto local government area, confirmed the incident and the casualty count to our correspondent on Wednesday.
He stated that the soldiers were dispatched to preserve calm in the area following militia attacks on communities, during which they were allegedly attacked and killed by the same Bassa militia.
“Bassa people attacked four communities in Katakpa village and as a result of that, the soldiers were drafted to maintain law and order.
“And while the soldiers were on patrol, the Bassa people laid ambush on them and killed three soldiers on Tuesday afternoon,” the local government chairman alleged.
He said the corpses of the soldiers have been recovered and handed over to the representatives of the military authorities, who visited the area over the attack.
“As I am talking to you now, I am standing with the ambulance that is conveying the dead bodies of the soldiers that were killed in the ambush,” he added.
The development comes barely a week after armed men killed three persons and destroyed properties worth millions of Naira during a similar attack on the community.
Recall that about three weeks ago, the suspected militia group also launched an attack on neighbouring Okudud community, killing seven persons. Scores of people were also injured with many houses razed in the January attack.
The Toto local government area council chairman said the spate of attacks necessitated the deployment of the military men to the area.
He said the Nasarawa State government has waded into the matter, adding that normalcy will soon return to the area.