Gunmen have murdered persons, injured and abducted several others including four Chinese nationals in an attack carried out on a mining site in Ajata-Aboki, Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government, Niger State.
Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki, the Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths of Niger State as well as the Niger State Government confirmed the incident in separate statements issued on Thursday.
“During yesterday’s deadly encounter, a large number of casualties were instantly recorded at the said mining site being owned and managed by Chinese Nationals as the AK-47 rifle-wielding terrorists gunned down their victims at sight as well as shot sporadically into the air thereby leading to more devastating consequence,” Yusuf’s statement said.
“Information at my disposal further proved that about thirteen people including seven mobile policemen attached to the mining sit probably as guards (providing security cover for the expatriates) and six other civilians were gruesomely killed through an ambush while scores of others who sustained various degrees of multiple gunshots injuries (some in critical condition) have been taken to various medical facilities for treatment.
The Co-convener also noted that the Nigerian Army stationed nearby swung into action to repel the attack but several officers were shot down by the assailants.
Reacting to the attack, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello commiserated with the families of the victims in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mary Noel Berje.
“It really saddened my heart to hear about this. It is even more worrisome to know that lives of security personnel were involved and expatriates were also among those kidnapped. My heart goes out to the family of our security men killed. I pray that Allah will grant them Alijannah Firdausi and quick recovery to those injured,” the statement said.
The governor further urged the security personnel to be unfazed by the incident and charged them to remain committed to discharging their duties and ensure the safe return of those kidnapped at the mining site.
