Five soldiers feared killed as bandits attack Niger communities

Armed bandits have allegedly killed seven persons, including five military officers, in the latest attacks on communities in Shiroro Local Government of Niger State.

The bandits were also said to have abducted over 10 persons, stole seven motorcycles and damaged military vehicles among others in the attacks they unleashed Wednesday and early Thursday morning.

The affected communities include Allawa, Manta, Gurmana, Bassa, and Kokki in the Shiroro council.

The PUNCH learnt that as of 2 am Thursday, the bandits stormed the camp of the Joint Security Task Force comprised of the Army, Police, Civil Defence and Vigilantes at Allawa and opened fire on them unaware, killing five soldiers and one civil defence officer, while many sustained various degrees of injuries.

Eyewitnesses said the bandits on Wednesday attacked Manta, Gurmana and Bassa villages, where they killed one Alhaji Sale in Madalla community under Bassa ward and kidnapped four people and went away with two motorcycles.
Confirming the incident, Mohammed Sani Idris, President Shiroro Youth Movement/Chairman MHWUN-SHLGA in Bassa, Gurmana and Manta said the Bandits armed with AK-47 and numbering about 100 attacked each community for about five hours unchallenged.

“During the invasion, they killed one Alhaji Sale in Madalla community under Bassa ward and kidnapped four people; and went away with two motorcycles.

“Also in Kokki Boddo, a community under Gurmana ward, they abducted six persons and took away five motorcycles, five people were also kidnapped in Manta ward.”

When contacted, Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Kokki, said, “The criminals took the personnel of the Joint Security Task Force unaware and opened fire on them. In the process, unfortunately, they successfully burnt down the camp to ashes, including the operational vehicles and also gruesomely killed about six personnel (five Army Officers and one civil defence Officer) while many others sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries.”

However, efforts to get a reaction from the state police command failed as calls put across to the Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, were not picked as of the time of filling this report.