The government and people of Niger State are in deep mourning over the loss of their citizens, just as the Nigerian Army has wiped off many bandits, according to Defence Ministry top spokesman, Major-General John Enenche.
State Governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello is commiserating with the Lebanese Government, the Nigerian Army and FERMA, over the loss of their national, staff and personnel to the activities of criminal elements in the State on Monday.
Just last week, it was announced that bandits erased 15 lives in Ukuru village in Mariga Local Government Area, after the villagers killed four of the bandits and an informant in the village.
It was unclear the true state of one of the foreigners, because earlier reports said one of them was killed while another was abducted.
The incident involving the foreign construction workers happened on Monday in Yekila, at a construction site along Zungeru-Tegina road in Rafi Local Government Area. The gunmen stormed the construction site on motorcycles and shot sporadically to scare the workers, sources said.
In a message of condolence the state governor expressed his deepest condolences and pain over the abducted, injured and killed workers including a foreigner.
The governor said he is saddened over the continuous loss of lives to society’s undesirable elements at a time the government is doing everything to address the problem of infrastructural decay in most parts of the State.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello said: “It is more grieving, when workers, who are dutifully carrying out their legitimate duty of maintaining roads have to suffer this fatality.
“We are at work presently and fast-tracking other measures, which we cannot disclose for now, to check the dubious activities of these criminals portraying the State in bad light both at home and internationally.”
“Our condolences are with the Lebanese embassy in Nigeria, the Nigerian Army and FERMA over the loss, especially, the families of the deceased who have lost their bread winners. Our resolve is that these heroes will not die in vain.
“It is more worrisome that most of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are young people, who are supposed to be leaders of tomorrow.
“He however called for a hoslitic approach to dealing with the high rate of crimes through strong family system.”
Governor Sani-Bello revealed that his government will intensify its collaboration with the relevant security agencies and President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the issue of insecurity is permanently laid to rest.
The abducted and killed workers, were engaged in the repair work on the Minna-Zungeru-Tegina road when the incident occurred.
Recall that the Defence Headquarters says the troops of Operation Whirl Punch have eliminated an unspecified number of armed bandits in an encounter at Tashan Kare in Niger.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement on Monday, said the success was in continuation of aggressive clearance operation to rid the North Central of criminal elements.
Enenche said that the troops acted based on credible intelligence on the attack by bandits.
According to him, troops swiftly mobilised to the scene and made contact with the bandits.
“The gallant troops engaged the armed bandits with superior fire power killing unspecified number, while others fled in disarray into the bushes.
“Sadly troops suffered three casualties, while two others were wounded in action.
“The Military High Command congratulates the gallant troops for their professionalism and encourages them to intensify the onslaught against the enemies of our country,” he said.