The Nigerian Army has dismissed the report of bandits’ attack on its base and killing of soldiers at Marina in Safana Local Government Area of Kat­sina State.

The Director Army Pub­lic Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, in a statement on Saturday, de­scribed the report as false and unsubstantiated.

Yerima said the report in a newspaper publication claimed that unspecified number of soldiers was feared killed in attack on the military post.

He said that troops of ‘Operation Hadarin Daji’ had on March 4, eliminated four bandits and captured arms and motorcycle during a clearance operation in the area.

Yerima said that uncon­firmed number of armed men with unspecified num­ber of rustled cattle were sighted and intercepted on Batsari-Runka road.

According to him, in an attempt to escape from the troops’ onslaught, the bandits sporadically fired at troops direction, but the gallant troops responded with superior firepower, followed by a hot pursuit, thereby forcing the bandits to withdraw in disarray.

“During the encounter, four bandits were neu­tralised, while others es­caped with various degrees of gunshot wounds.

“Troops also captured two AK-47 rifles and one motorcycle belonging to the bandits.