A combined team of combat ready policemen and soldiers have engaged bandits in a gun duel near Kasarami village on the Abuja-Kaduna road where they killed about 7.

The Kasarami axis was a popular route used by the bandits to launch attacks on neighbouring communities and unsuspecting travellers on the Federal road.

A member of the NYSC who was travelling in a commercial vehicle that fateful Friday night fell victim of the bandits’ bullet and was later pronounced dead at a private hospital.

A source told Vanguard that the bandits were engaged by the security operatives while they were trying to cross the highway at Kasarami Village at about 8pm on Friday.

According to the source, “the corper was hit on the head by the bullet. About 7 bandits were killed during the crossfire.”

“The victim was hit by a stray bullet because there was a serious crossfire between the security operatives and the bandits that tried to cross the main road at Kasarami village which is a route they use. But the security men, among them soldiers, at Rijana engaged them killing about 7 of them. The corper was rushed to Saint Gerald Hospital that night but was confirmed dead by doctors. He has been buried according to Muslim rites.”

Although the State Police Public Relations Officer could be reached for comment, AbdulRahman Ibrahim, a friend of the deceased said: “One of my university course mates was attacked and shot dead by bandits yesternight along Kaduna Abuja express way.”

“He was a hard-working student during our days in Kaduna State University. I was opportune to visit his hometown In Bukuru Jos South during my NYSC days back in Jos Plateau in 2020.”

“He died without any employment or empowerment, he has suffered a lot during our days in d University and unfortunately he was shot dead by bandits while struggling for means of survival,” he said. (Text, excluding headline: Vanguard)