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At least four soldiers were feared killed on Friday after heavily armed bandits attacked Kebbe town in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving a trail of destruction.
The attackers, who reportedly stormed the community at about 10 a.m. on motorcycles, looted shops, damaged public facilities and engaged security personnel in a fierce gun battle.
Residents said the gunmen, numbering in the hundreds, moved freely through the town, stealing mobile phones, food items and petrol from shops.
A witness, who spoke anonymously, said the bandits also attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters before invading the Kebbe General Hospital, where they vandalised the Divisional Police Officer's vehicle parked within the premises.
Despite the attack on the police facility, no civilian deaths or casualties were reported there.
The assailants later advanced to a military base on the outskirts of the town, where they exchanged gunfire with troops.
According to residents and security sources, three soldiers were killed during the confrontation, while a fourth, who sustained serious injuries and was rushed to hospital, later died.
A security source said intelligence reports suggested the attackers came from Bukuyyum in neighbouring Zamfara State and were initially believed to be heading towards Kebbi State before diverting to Kebbe.
The source also disclosed that the bandits destroyed military patrol vehicles during the attack and damaged the DPO's vehicle at the general hospital.
One of the attackers' motorcycles was reportedly abandoned after it ran out of fuel before the gang fled the area.
Following the incident, additional troops were deployed to Kebbe, while an Air Force aircraft was mobilised to support ongoing security operations.
The General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Nigerian Army was also said to have visited the town to assess the security situation.
Residents of nearby Tambuwal reported seeing several military vehicles moving towards Kebbe as reinforcement.
Videos circulating on social media showed frightened residents fleeing the community and crossing a stream in search of safety during the attack.
Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa'i, described the attack as unfortunate but said calm had been restored.
He, however, declined to confirm the number of casualties, saying security agencies were still assessing the situation.
