Gunmen have engaged troops of the Nigerian Army in a shootout in Madalla, Niger State, Punch Newspaper reports.

According to the report, the terrorists stormed the Zuma Rock checkpoint, close to Zuma barracks and began to shoot sporadically.

The checkpoint is located along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway that has witnessed attacks by gunmen.

Eyewitnesses have said there was a serious gridlock in the area as motorists were forced to abandon their vehicles and run for safety.

A source told Daily Trust that the attackers arrived at the spot some minutes after 7pm and opened fire immediately.

“They took control of the area for about 30 minutes and kept on shooting before heading towards Kaduna axis of the expressway,” the source said.

About 20 minutes after the terrorists left, soldiers from Zuma Barracks rushed to the scene and took full control.

A patrol team of policemen also arrived at the place.

Spokespersons for the army and police were not available for comments as they did not respond to telephone calls and text messages.

The latest attack on the military checkpoint comes a few days after terrorists launched a similar attack on presidential guards in Abuja.

Two officers (a lieutenant and a captain) and six soldiers were killed in the attack while at least four others, including the commanding officer who is said to be a lieutenant colonel, were injured and taken to the hospital.

While the military and the federal government kept mum on the attack, Kogi State Government on Tuesday announced that the two officers killed were from the state.

On Thursday, the federal government finally confirmed the attack with the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, saying the soldiers “were ambushed and decimated” by the terrorists.

PT/Daily Trust