Two soldiers from the 312 Battalion Kalapanzi Barracks in Kaduna were attacked by armed assailants on April 2, 2025, at Babar Saura around 4: 41 PM. The assault, carried out by three heavily armed attackers, resulted in the death of one soldier and left another critically injured. The attackers, wielding sophisticated weapons, ambushed the soldiers in what appeared to be a targeted assault aimed at stealing their firearms.

According to intelligence sources, the assailants opened fire on the soldiers without warning, hitting Corporal James (surname unknown) and Private Ibrahim Bazalla. Corporal James succumbed to his injuries at the scene, while Private Bazalla sustained gunshot wounds and was quickly transported to the 44 Army Reference Hospital for urgent medical attention. His condition remains critical but stable as military doctors continue to provide necessary treatment.

In the aftermath of the attack, the gunmen managed to seize two AK- 47 rifles from the fallen soldiers before fleeing the scene. Their swift and coordinated escape suggested prior planning and a strong familiarity with the area. Security forces immediately launched a manhunt, deploying military personnel, police, and local vigilante groups to track down the assailants.

The operation led security forces to Degel2, Kaduna, where the attackers abandoned a silver Toyota Corolla, possibly used in their initial getaway. As security operatives closed in, the suspects hijacked a white Toyota Venza from a civilian identified as Abdullahi Mohammed of Badarawa, Kaduna. Witnesses reported that the attackers acted with precision and urgency, threatening the victim before speeding away in the stolen vehicle.