A Nigerian soldier, Lance Corporal Yusuf Zakari, was killed in action on Saturday after troops clashed with suspected armed Fulani terrorists attempting to invade Manja village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources said the attackers were advancing towards the border community, which shares a boundary with Bokkos LGA, when troops from Sector 9 of Operation Enduring Peace moved in to block their advance through the sprawling Manja Forest.
The operation quickly escalated into a fierce gun battle, during which Zakari was fatally shot while confronting the attackers.
A security operative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the troops had been deployed as a blocking force to prevent the terrorists from infiltrating Manja, a community that has suffered repeated attacks linked to the lingering herder-farmer conflict.
“At about 1:25 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, the troops made contact with the advancing Fulani bandits, leading to a prolonged exchange of gunfire,” the source said.
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“Despite mounting a determined resistance, Lance Corporal Zakari was ambushed during the battle and sustained fatal gunshot wounds while defending his fellow soldiers and civilians. The attackers later seized his service rifle before retreating.“
The incident was also confirmed by Jos-based conflict journalist Masara Kim Usman, who disclosed that the assailants stormed Manja village while worshippers were still in church.
According to him, the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately and set several houses ablaze before security forces intervened.
“Thanks to a swift military response, many civilians were evacuated to safety. Tragically, one soldier paid the supreme price defending the community,” Usman wrote on Facebook.
He described the attack as part of a growing wave of violence targeting communities in Plateau State, claiming that more than 50 people have been killed across the state since June 1.
“Many of these attacks happen in remote villages and are rarely reported, but together they paint a disturbing picture,” he added, while calling for prayers for the affected families and lasting peace in Plateau State.
