Galadima Kogo community in Niger state has been in a state of distress following an attack by gunmen with the use of explosives, at least ten persons including security operatives have been killed.
It was understood that the gunmen attacked the community and also planted a explosives in the area.
Gunmen were said to have earlier attacked Gpekure, Makuba and Galapai communities on Sunday, killing eight people and abducting 13 others.
The Niger state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs Emmanuel Umar confirmed the attacks in a telephone interview. Umar opens up that an unspecified number of civilians were killed during the attacks, adding that security operatives have not discovered the harm caused by the explosion.
“Both unfortunate attacks happened and unfortunately, we lost some of our men and a number of yet-to-be-identified civilian casualties,” the commissioner said.
“We lost four of our security personnel who were in our security vehicle that ran on the bomb. I and other security agencies are yet to get to the point where the explosion took place because we are waiting for the bomb experts to inform us of the safety of the areas before we can go there.”
Spokesman of the Niger state police command, Wasiu Abiodun also verified the development in a statement.
“The Niger State Police Command wishes to confirm that on 21/02/2022 at about 0100hrs, armed bandits/terrorists attacked Galadima-Kogo village, Shiroro LGA killing about six persons and set some houses ablaze,” the statement reads.
“However, joint tactical teams comprised of the Military, Police, NSCDC and Vigilantes were mobilised to the scene, and unfortunately while on their way, a truck with NSCDC personnel ran into an Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) planted by bandits/insurgents along the routes and exploded.
“Consequently, as a result of the IED explosion, four NSCDC personnel lost their lives, while the driver sustained serious injuries and presently receiving treatment in a hospital, in Minna.”
Abiodun added that Bala Kuryas, Niger commissioner of police, “has deployed the Police Explosive Ordinance Unit (EOD) to sweep the area with a view to defuse other IEDs that might have been planted in the area, while one of the notorious bandits/insurgents was apprehended and investigation is ongoing as the suspect is undergoing interrogation in Police custody”.
Another statement by Abubakar Kokki, co-convener of Concerned Shiroro Youths of Niger State, said the level of destruction in Shiroro LGA, where the attacks occurred, could not yet be ascertained.
Kokki added that Galadima Kogo has been at the mercy of insurgents in recent times, adding that they are operating freely in the community. Barely three weeks after the infamous Galadima Kogo massacre, report emanating from the town is not pleasing as terrorists in their large numbers are setting the whole town ablaze.
The hydraheaded, poisonous, murderous and heartless terrorists fully armed with assorted, sophisticated and dangerous weapons had earlier yesterday afternoon attacked a nearby Galape village where they abducted an unspecified number of people.
Thereafter, they proceeded to Galadima Kogo that is almost abandoned and started burning houses while concurrently shooting sporadically into the air.
