Bala Yahaya, Minna
Reports indicate that terrorists have set off explosives at Galadima-Kogo, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Eye witnesses told Prime Business Africa that ”Galadima Kogo community of Shiroro has been burnt down by terrorist gangs.”
Join our WhatsApp ChannelOur Correspondent in Niger State, who spoke to some of the residents on telephone reports fears that substantial casualties could have been recorded.
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Residents said the explosion occurred few hours after bandit attacks in three communities, meters away from Galadima-Kogo.
Resident of the area, and Co-convener of Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokoki, said ”many people might have been killed.” Kokki disclosed that the use of IEDs by terrorists in the course of unleashing mayhem on unsuspecting victims is strange and has created panic among inhabitants.
It was gathered that explosives believed to be bombs planted by the terrorists exploded early morning on Monday February 21, 2022 following Sunday night raid during which rampaging terrorists carried out attacks in the area.
Recurring sounds of IEDs were heard as explosive continued to detonate unabated.
Yusuf Kokoki explained that concerns were rife among residents of the area regarding the ugly incident, noting that ”explosions of this magnitude are new.”
He said that the terrorists have, in recent times, been no rampage in the whole of Lakpma area of Shiroro Local Council, attacking unsuspecting victims.
Prime Business Africa reliably gathered that the terrorists had, on Saturday, February 19, 2022, invaded Makuba Bassa and Okoki communities of Shiroro Local Council, abducting 15 persons and killing one.
As at the time of filing this report, casualty figure could not be ascertained, as the affected areas were not yet accessible
When contacted,the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO,Niger State Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, directed our correspondent to confirm the attack from Commissioner for Local Government,Community Development,Chieftaincy and Internal Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Umar.
Umar could not be reached for comments but one of his aides, who craved anonymity, confirmed the attacks. The aide said they were yet to receive official details from the area and promised to call back any time the report is ready.
”We are no longer safe in Niger State…Shiroro is less than 45 minutes drive to the state capital”, an academic staff of the Federal University of Technology Minna, told Prime Business Africa in a short message
Recall that Galadima Kogo was invaded by bandits barely three weeks ago, during which scores of innocent people, including security agents, lost their lives.
Nowhere is safe in Nigeria again, God help us