Bandits have attacked a joint military base in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing scores.

Newsmen learnt that the base located at Dama village is codenamed “Burkusuma camp”.

Sources said the attack happened in the early hours of Friday.

A former chairman of Sabon Birni, Idris Muhammad Gobir, fondly called Danchadi, who confirmed the attack, said many security operatives were missing.

The marauders also burnt down two patrol vehicles and carted away another which was used to convey food items stolen from the village.

said they received a report about the attack from a resident of the area, who was using the Nigerien network.

“But I will still contact him for more updates and get back to you,” he said

However, a prominent traditional ruler in the area confirmed that some vehicles were sent to evacuate the corpses of the fallen heroes.

“And over 10 trucks loaded with well-armed soldiers are currently in the forest trailing the bandits,” he said.

An officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, who sought anonymity confirmed to our reporter that three NSCDC personnel were among the casualties.

“As I am talking to you, we are at the morgue to claim and recover their corpses for burial,” he said.

It was learnt that the bandits also attacked Katsira village and shot four persons.

Two of the victims were said to have died instantly while the remaining two are receiving treatment at the undisclosed hospital.

The bandits were also said to have abducted three persons from the village.