…Says informants aided reprisal attack by suspected Boko Haram
… As Gunmen attack Shiroro communities, kill 14, abduct unconfirmed numbers
Pandemonium in parts of Niger state as explosives believed to have been planted by marauding terrorists exploded on Monday morning at Galadima Kogo in Shiroro local government area killing unspecified men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and leaving several others injured.
This attack is coming barely three weeks after attacks in Galadima Kogo in Shiroro LGA and the Joint Task Force were said to be going to the communities attacked by the terrorists at 2 am on Monday.
Confirming the attacks on Monday through a phone call, the Commissioner for Local Government Chieftancy Affairs and Internal Security Mr Emmanuel Umar said the gunmen are suspected Boko Haram elements who carried out a reprisal attack after a major mop up in their stronghold.
The report emanating from the town according to a Source is not palatable at as terrorists in their large numbers are on rampage and currently setting the whole town ablaze.
It was reliably gathered that men of the Joint Security Task Force which include the Military, Police, NSCDC and Local Hunters were on their way to Galadima Kogo when they suffered serious casualty after stepping on mines.
According to a reliable source who did not want his name mentioned, “the NSCDC vehicle rode behind the Military and when they drove along they rode on the mines (IEDs) which eventually exploded leaving unconfirmed number dead and others injured.”
According to the Source “the Civil Defence officer in charge of the Galadima Kogo district Muhammed Ibrahim was among those killed by the bomb as he was in one of the two official Hilux that ran into the planted bombs on their way to Galadima Kogo”.
The Source added that, other casualty figure could not be ascertained as the affected areas are not yet accessible due to possible dangers.
According to the Commissioner, “on the casualty level, four security men were reported killed while in action and one seriously injured. Information flying around indicates that they are men of the NSCDC.”
He also expressed dismay at the activities of informants saying, “there were security activities in that area two days ago. We also did some mop up in their (Gunmen) stronghold and they are doing a reprisal attack. We believe that it was informants that notified and aided them.”
Umar further assured that the state government has taken steps adding that the people should remain calm, support the Government and the security agencies.
In a statement sent to our Correspondent on Monday, the Co-Convener Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki confirmed the explosion and attacks saying “the use of improvised explosive device (IED) by terrorists in the course of unleashing mayhem on unsuspecting victims is strange and has created panic among our people”.
He expressed concerns saying “the explosions of this magnitude are new and unusual which is attributable to kid gloves. The menace have taken a more devastating dimension.”
Kokki said in the statement that terrorists heavily armed with assorted sophisticated and dangerous weapons had on Sunday afternoon stormed a nearby Galape village where they abducted unspecified numbers of people and thereafter proceeded to Galadima Kogo where they burnt houses while simultaneously shooting sporadically into the air.
He added that, the gunmen invaded the whole of Lakpma axis of Shiroro local government wrecking havoc on unsuspecting victims. They also attacked Makuba Community, Bassa/Kukoki Ward, Shiroro local government area and killed one person while kidnapping fifteen people”.
“Last week, at Guyi, Alai and Kushaku Villages all in Galadima Kogo District about thirteen people were gruesomely murdered, beheaded and butchered with machetes while abducting scores”.
Kokki further stated that Galadima Kogo is now absolutely porous as well as made completely vulnerable due to non restoration of Special Hunters earlier withdrawn from the town.
Accordingly, he said “the Special Hunters have for a very long time been solely responsible for security there. That is why the terrorists are more daring and are currently having a field day operating freely and launching deadly attacks without any resistance, confrontation or reprisals.
“At the moment, the level of destructions and losses is still unascertainable as arson is still ongoing”.
“To aver that we are hopeless, hapless and helpless is a huge understatement. Our collective survival have since been placed on life support.
“Our vulnerability has reached the highest boiling point to the extent of now living at the mercy of dreaded criminals. They are the ones deciding who to live and who not to live!”
As at the time of filing this report, the Niger state Police Command has not released an official statement.
Also, phone calls put across to the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Nasir Abdullahi by our Correspondent for confirmation proved abortive as he did not pick his call nor reply the Short Message Service (SMS) and WhatsApp messages.
