Bandits Kill 7 Police Officers, 6 Soldiers, Kidnap 3 Chinese Nationals

Bandits have attacked a mining site in Niger State and reportedly killed seven Policemen, 6 soldiers and kidnapped three Chinese nationals.

The attack occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Ajata, Aboki in Gurmana ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youth of Niger State, Sani Kokki, confirmed the incident on Thursday.

He said the bandits attacked the mining site and opened fire on the workers and security operatives.

He also stated that the bandits kidnapped a yet-to-be-identified number of people including two  local government area of Niger State.

It was gathered the killing took place around a mining site in the area that has large deposits of gold and gemstone on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Niger State government has also confirmed the development, saying two Chinese nationals, among others, were kidnapped.

According to a statement by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Emmanuel Umar, a joint security team engaged the terrorists, “and there were yet to be determined number of casualties from both sides.”

A yet-to-be-ascertained number of workers in the mining site including two Chinese nationals were reportedly abducted.

“Security forces mobilised reinforcement for the manhunt of the remaining terrorists as some of them were neutralized and rescue of the injured victims including security personnel that sustained various degrees of injuries have been taken to a government medical facility in the state for treatment.

“While the Niger State Government commiserates with the heads of security agencies in the state and the families of the slain personnel, the state government assures that their sacrifices will not go in vain.

“The state government acknowledged all the efforts of the joint security operatives and that of the communities in the State towards taming the spate of insecurity in some parts of the state, hence, security personnel are enjoined not to be discouraged in discharging their sacred duties of protecting citizens against all forms of threats as government will continue to be steadfast in providing them with the needed support in all ramifications.

“His Excellency, Abubakar Sani Bello, the Governor of Niger State, has therefore directed that the security agencies should go all out to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped victims and make sure that none of the terrorists escape,” the government said.