Reports say that terrorists launched an ambush, resulting in the tragic deaths of six soldiers in the communities of Roro, Karaga, and Rumace within Bassa Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, on Friday night.
Also, a captain was reportedly abducted during the attack.
The soldiers, responding to a distress call, were ambushed by armed bandits while en route from their camps at Allawa and Erena to Roro village.
In the onslaught, the terrorists not only claimed the lives of the soldiers but also took the lives of a hunter and two farmers.
READ ALSO: Insecurity: Take Urgent Measures to Redeem Battered Image of Nigeria — T.Y Danjuma
They further inflicted destruction by burning houses, food storage facilities, and motorcycles.
This incident echoes previous violence, such as the tragic loss of 17 senior military officers, including soldiers and majors, in a peacekeeping mission in Okuama community, Delta State, on March 14.
Similarly, the military had reported the deaths of three officers and 22 soldiers during a bandit ambush on troops in Niger State last year.
Eyewitnesses to the recent attack recounted a harrowing ordeal that began around 9 pm on Friday, and lasted for hours as the bandits, traveling on motorcycles, unleashed indiscriminate gunfire upon the communities.
Despite efforts to reach out to military authorities for comment, there has been no official statement. However, Niger State’s Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brigadier-General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed, confirmed the incident in response to inquiries.
He said “all hands were on deck” to bring the perpetrators to book.
“All hands are on deck to bring the perpetrators to face the law. Government, on its own, is doing everything possible to end the insecurity issues.
“Additionally, the government will stand by the bereaved and share their grief as well as support them, now and in the long term,” the commissioner said.
It seems that SP Wasiu Abiodun, the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, was unavailable for comment at the time of compiling the report.’
(Daily Trust)
