Date devil bandits have launched a deadly pre-dawn assault on a joint security post in Kemanji community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing at least three soldiers and carting away an armoured military vehicle along with weapons.

The attack, which occurred at about 3:00am on Monday, also left several security operatives injured, while motorcycles and ammunition belonging to the joint security team were reportedly taken away by the assailants.

A former council chairman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told newsmen that the gunmen stormed the community in their large numbers and directly targeted the security formation, which comprised soldiers, forest guards, and local vigilantes.

“They came into Kemanji around 3am and attacked the security post. They killed three soldiers and two vigilantes, while several others were injured,” he said.

“They also took about twelve motorcycles, guns and ammunition, and even went away with the army gun truck,” he added.

According to the source, injured operatives were evacuated to medical facilities, with those in critical condition referred to Ilorin for advanced treatment.

“Some of those injured are on their way to Ilorin for treatment, while others are receiving care at Kaiama General Hospital,” he stated.

Despite the intensity of the attack, the source noted that residents of the community were not directly targeted by the assailants.

“The bandits did not kidnap or harm any residents. They only engaged the security personnel,” he said.

A resident, Mohammed Mohammed, corroborated the account, stating that the attackers initially overwhelmed the troops before escaping with military equipment.

“They invaded the community and killed three military officers. They took their armoured vehicle along with motorcycles, arms and ammunition,” he said.

He further disclosed that security forces had since launched a pursuit operation into the surrounding forests in a bid to track down the fleeing attackers.

“We learnt that the bandits are many in number, and the military are already in the bush pursuing them,” he added.

Another resident, Yinusa Mohammed, volunteered that the attackers also evacuated their own casualties, a development that has raised suspicions of possible local collaboration.

“Three soldiers were killed. The army also neutralised some of them, but they carried their people away using the army vehicle they took. That raises suspicion that they may have informants around,” he said.

Confirming the incident, the village head of Kemanji, Sanni Zikki, attributed the attack to bandits operating from nearby forest areas.

“The bandits came from the Kainji National Park and attacked our security men. We lost three soldiers. Some others were injured,” he said.

He added that the security personnel put up resistance despite the scale and intensity of the attack.

“There were heavy gunshots everywhere. It was intense, but the security men tried,” he noted.

Zikki also dismissed claims that the attackers had issued prior threats to the community, maintaining that no civilian casualties were recorded during the incident.

“There was no casualty among residents,” he said.

Efforts to reach the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, and the Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area, Abubakar Abdullahi, were unsuccessful, as calls placed to them were not answered as of the time of filing this report.