The Niger State Government on Thursday confirmed that armed bandits on Wednesday invaded a mining site located at Ajata Aboki village via Erena Ward of Shiroro Local Government Area.
Major Anara, and Capt Abubakar Samido, were among the military casualties in the attack carried out by terrorists around 2 pm.
An unspecified number of security agencies were gunned down including police officers.
According to a statement by Emmanuel Umar, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs of Niger State, 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 mobilized 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.
