Army major allegedly killed by bandits who received vans, cash from Zamfara government

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have reportedly killed a senior army officer, Major J. F. London, in Zamfara State.

A military source, according to Sahara Reporters, said that London was killed during an ambush set up for Nigerian soldiers at Janbako town in the Maradun local government area of the state on Sunday.

The source said the attackers came in a Hilux vehicle and motorcycles given to repentant bandits by Governor Bello Matawalle.

Two other soldiers were also injured during the attack.

The soldiers were said to be on their way to restore peace at Janboko after bandits invaded the community.

About 15 brand new Hilux vehicles were, according to Sahara Reporters, given to leaders of different ‘repentant’ banditry groups by the governor.

The governor also approved millions of naira to be given to the ‘repentant’ bandits as compensation, it was reported.

The government is yet to deny giving “vehicle palliatives” to the bandits. It only called it “malicious and libellous”.

“A senior military officer and a top commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) here in Zamfara State, J.F. London, was the one killed by bandits in Janboko on Sunday,” the source told Sahara Reporters.

“The gunmen came in one of those Hilux vehicles given to leaders of different repentant banditry groups in Zamfara State by Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle.

“They were later resisted by the local vigilantes, so they fled and left behind the Hilux vehicle and the motorcycles they came with.”