After gunmen, believed to be bandits, killed at least 43 people including 30 soldiers and seven mobile police personnel in an attack on a mining site in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division has moved to the location to take charge of the follow on operations.
The Niger State Government, which confirmed the attack, however, said the number of casualties is yet to be ascertained.
Residents said a search party found 37 bodies of soldiers and policemen in a bush near the mining site Thursday morning.
Six other corpses of civilians were also recovered from the bush.
Army spokesman, Onyema Nwachukwu, a brigadier-general, also confirmed the attack, but was also silent on the actual number of troops who lost their lives.
He, however, announced the deployment of the GOC.
The statement by the spokesman reads, “On Wednesday 29 June 2022, troops of the Nigerian Army (NA) deployed in Shiroro general area responded to a distress call of bandits attack on people operating a mining site.
“Enroute the location, the troops ran into an ambush staged by the criminal elements. Sadly, a number of personnel paid the supreme price in fierce firefight that ensued.
“Subsequently, the location has been reinforced and troops are on the trail of the criminals with some already neutralized.
“The GOC 1 Division has moved to the location to take charge of the follow on operations.
“The NA notes that some clips of the incident have surfaced online and wish to encourage well meaning Nigerians to exercise some restraint in posting images of such occurrence, mindful that our brothers and sisters who may have lost their breadwinners deserve to be properly notified and not to get such information via the media.
“We mention this, mindful of the inalienable rights of citizens to use the social media which is respected.
“It is also necessary to clarify that activities of the criminals was not on any critical national asset or infrastructure.
“Furthermore, the NA calls on all Nigerians to continue to support the efforts of their military personnel who continue to confront the enemies of our dear nation.”
According to a report by Premium Times, residents said many Chinese nationals and Nigerians were also abducted during the attack on the site on Wednesday.
Yusuf Kokki, the co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES, said residents witnessed the attack on the site by several heavily armed assailants.
“The deaths from the Ajata – Aboki massacre have risen astronomically as, at present, almost thirty soldiers have been discovered in the bush and confirmed dead,” Mr Kokki said.
He said resident expect to find more corpses as the search continues on Thursday morning.
Mr Kokki said the gunmen arrived at the mining site operated by the Chinese and started shooting unsuspecting workers and the guards.
He said seven mobile policemen and six other civilians were killed at the mining site.
Mr Kokki said soldiers who were stationed at the nearby Erena town, swung into action and rushed to the scene, engaging the criminals in a firefight. Unfortunately, they suffered heavy causalities.
Scores of others who sustained gunshot injuries (some in critical condition) have been taken to hospitals in the area for treatment.
Emmanuel Umar, Niger State commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, while confirming the attack, said the intervention of the soldiers led to the rescue of several workers who were injured in the attack.
He, however, confirmed that four Chinese and several other workers were kidnapped by the bandits.
He said the government has sent reinforcement and security personnel are pursuing the bandits with the hope of rescuing those kidnapped.
“The state government acknowledged all the efforts of the joint security operatives and that of the communities in the State towards taming the spate of insecurity in some parts of the state.
“Hence, security personnel are enjoined not to be discouraged in discharging their sacred duties of protecting citizens against all forms of threats as the government will continue to be steadfast in providing them with the needed support in all ramifications.
“His Excellency, Abubakar Sani Bello, the Governor of Niger State, has, therefore, directed that the security agencies should go all out to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped victims and make sure that none of the terrorists escape,” he said.
▪︎ Additional reports by PREMIUM TIMES