Gunmen launch deadly assault on forest ranger station in Kaduna village, leaving five dead and three wounded

A deadly night attack by unknown gunmen on a hunters’ office in Kaduna's Gidan Waya community has left five people dead, including a student, and three others injured, with the victims being personnel of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Gidan Waya Command.

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The command's intelligence officer, Mr Gaji Ampot, confirmed the incident, which occurred on a Wednesday night, to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the scene of the attack.

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According to Ampot, the gunmen launched a surprise attack on the office from two opposite directions at around 8 p.m., opening fire on the personnel as they carried out their official duties.

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Ampot described the attack, saying one gunman arrived on a motorcycle from one direction, while others approached on foot from the opposite side, beginning to shoot, and that all but one of the victims were NFSS personnel, with the fifth person killed being a student who was at the office to resolve an issue.

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The injured victims have been taken to a hospital for treatment, according to Ampot.

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A local resident, who chose to remain anonymous, suggested that the NFSS personnel may have been targeted due to their efforts to curb banditry in the area.

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At the scene of the attack, visible bloodstains were seen as residents gathered in small groups to discuss the incident.

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The area, including Gidan Waya and its environs, had previously been a hotbed of attacks, although it had experienced a period of relative calm and peace in recent times, according to NAN.