An Army Major, 11 soldiers, and an unknown number of local vigilance members were reportedly killed by suspected terrorists in Niger State’s Zungeru Wushshi Local Government Area. During the gunfight on Sunday, eight other soldiers were also hurt.
The attackers, who apparently numbered around 70 and were armed with modern weapons, ambushed the soldiers. However, the troops were not without resistance, as they killed nearly 30 militants.
According to reports, the soldiers were attacked while responding to a distress call in Akare, where the terrorists were claimed to have rustled cattle. It was also learned that the soldiers were provided incorrect information about the robbers’ movements, which led to the ambush.
The bodies of the killed troops were reportedly placed at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Zingeru before being transported on Monday morning to an undisclosed location.
According to a source, five people were killed, including a one-year-old child, and about 15 people were abducted by gunmen in New Bussa, Borgu Local Government, Chibani, Shiroro Local Government, and Zagzaga in Munya Local Government regions.
Civilians from Akere, Wushishi, and neighboring communities fled their houses and sought safety in Zungeru town as a result of the incident.
When reached, an Army official at the 31 Artillery Brigade in Minna stated, “We are not allowed to speak to the press, please contact Abuja.”
Mr. Sanni Kokki, Convener of Shiroro Concerned Youths, verified the attacks in a phone chat with our Correspondents in Abuja, characterizing the acts as regrettable.
“As we speak, villagers from the surrounding area are flocking to Erena in large numbers. Another issue is that people are being relocated from their ancestral homes to unknown destinations. With our people facing economic hardships, we are facing another humanitarian disaster.”
When contacted, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa of Niger East termed the situation as “extremely unfortunate” and urged the Federal Government to send its military and security forces to the problematic areas to rescue innocent lives and property.
Musa said, “This is a very serious situation happening at a time we were happy thinking that banditry was subsiding in our various communities. The FG, should as a matter of urgency, deploy all its arsenal in order to curtail further spread.
“We have been having a reduction in cases of attacks but now it appears as if there is a serious escalation of the situation. The most alarming situation now is that the attacks look like a planned work because the bandits were carrying out their operations simultaneously in many parts of the state. The government should please, as a matter of urgency, take drastic action on it and save the lives and property of our people.”
Meanwhile, tangible anxiety has gripped the people of Wushishi, Zungru, and neighboring settlements as security forces swarmed the region in an attempt to apprehend the perpetrators of the crimes, who were believed to be trapped in the woods with their rustled livestock and injured colleagues.
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