Suspected armed bandits killed at least five soldiers in an ambush on their vehicle at Wanzamai community in Tsafe local government area of Zamfara State.
Wanzamai community is located just 60 km south of Gusau, the state capital, and had suffered a series of attacks by the bandits in the past.
The state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, confirmed the attack in an interview with BBC Hausa Service but did not give the casualty figures.
The report said soldiers were responding to a distress call when the criminals opened fire on their vehicles.
The armed men reportedly made away with the rifles of the slain soldiers.
