Several security agents, civilians, have been reportedly killed while four Chinese nationals were kidnapped by gunmen believed to be bandits who attacked a mining site in Niger State. The attack was said to have occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Ajata, Aboki in Gurmana ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger. The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Emmanuel Umar, while confirming the incident said the number of casualties is yet to be ascertained. Residents revealed that 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.
The attackers, reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons, were said to have arrived the community about 2pm and headed to the mining site, shooting at anyone on sight.
He was quoted saying, “Niger State government wishes to confirm that on 29/06/2022 about 1600hrs, based on a distress call received that bandits/terrorists invaded a mining site located at Ajata Aboki village via Erena Ward of Shiroro LGA and a joint team were mobilized to the scene in response to the distress call.
Umar said while the terrorists were engaged by the security team, resulting in casualties from both sides.
“A yet-to-be ascertained number of workers in the mining site including four Chinese nationals were reported to have been abducted.
“Security forces mobilized reinforcement for the manhunt of the remaining terrorists and rescue of the injured victims including security personnel that sustained varying degrees of injury have been taken to a government medical facility in the state for treatment.
“While the Niger State Government commiserates with the heads of security agencies in the state and the families of the slain personnel, the state government assures that their sacrifices will not go in vain.”
