Five people including a student were killed and three others sustained injuries after a night attack by suspected gunmen on hunters office in the Gidan Waya community in the Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The victims were operatives of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Gidan Waya Command.

The command’s intelligence officer, Gaji Ampot, confirmed the incident.

Mr Ampot said the gunmen stormed the office from two opposite directions at about 8:00 p.m. and opened fire on the operatives while they were carrying out official duties.

He said, “One of the gunmen arrived on a motorcycle from one direction, while others approached on foot from the opposite side and began shooting. All but one of the victims were our men. The fifth person killed was a student who was in our office to resolve an issue.”

He added that the injured victims had been taken to a hospital for treatment.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested that the NFSS officials might have been targeted due to their efforts in curbing banditry in the area.

At the scene, bloodstains were visible as residents gathered in small groups, discussing the incident.

Gidan Waya and environs had been a hotbed of attacks until a relative calm and peace in recent times. 

(NAN)