About 30 soldiers and many others are said to have been killed by bandits, terrorising northern states, in Niger State.
The terrorists reportedly abducted many people, including four Chinese nationals, in the attack that happened on a mining site in Ajata- Aboki, Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident which happened on Wednesday was confirmed by the Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths of Niger State, Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki, and the Niger State Government confirmed, in separate statements on Thursday.
Kokki said, “During yesterday’s deadly encounter, a large number of casualties were instantly recorded at the said mining site being owned and managed by Chinese Nationals as the AK-47 rifle wielding terrorists gunned down their victims at sight as well as shot sporadically into the air thereby leading to more devastating consequence.
“Information at my disposal further proved that about thirteen (13) people including seven (7) mobile policemen attached to the mining site probably as guards (providing security cover for the expatriates) and six (6) other civilians were gruesomely killed through an ambush while scores of others who sustained various degrees of multiple gunshots injuries (some in critical condition) have been taken to various medical facilities for treatment.
“However, a yet-to-be ascertained number of workers in the mining site including four Chinese nationals were reported to have been abducted,” the Niger government added in a statement by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Emmanuel Umar.
According to Kokki, the Nigerian Army stationed nearby swung into action to repel the attack but had several of its officers killed by the assailants.
In a separate update, he added that the death toll had risen, noting that “almost thirty soldiers” were discovered in the bush and confirmed dead. “More bodies are still being expected as search efforts have intensified,” Kokki added.
In his reaction to the development, Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello commiserated with the families of the victims.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mary Noel-Berje, the governor said, “It really saddened my heart to hear about this. It is even more worrisome to know that the lives of security personnel were involved and expatriates were also among those kidnapped.
“My heart goes out to the family of our security men killed, I pray that Allah will grant them Aljannah Firdausi and quick recovery to those injured.”
He asked the security personnel not to be dampened by the incident, charging them to remain committed to discharging their duties and ensure the safe return of the four Chinese Nationals and others kidnapped at the mining site.
The army and the police are yet to respond to the incident as of when this report was filed.