Many Dead As Explosion Rocks Niger Community

Many people have been killed in an explosion that rocked Galadima-Kogo village, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Naija News reports that the Co-Convener of Concern Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki, made this known in an interview with Daily Trust on Monday.

Kokki disclosed that the explosion was caused by terrorists who planted explosives in the village, adding that the village has been at the mercy of insurgents in recent times.

“Barely three weeks after the infamous Galadima Kogo massacre, report emanating from the town is not palatable at all as terrorists in their large numbers are currently setting the whole town ablaze,” he said.

“The hydra-headed, venomous, murderous and heartless terrorists heavily armed with assorted, sophisticated and dangerous weapons had earlier yesterday afternoon stormed a nearby Galape village where they abducted an unspecified number of people.

“Thereafter, they proceeded to Galadima Kogo that is almost deserted and started burning houses while simultaneously shooting sporadically into the air.”

Speaking on the development, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Emmanuel Umar, confirmed that at least 10 persons, including security operatives, were killed during the attack.

He also disclosed that eight persons were killed and 13 others abducted during an attack on Gpekure, Makuba and Galapai communities on Sunday.

He said: “Both unfortunate attacks happened and unfortunately, we lost some of our men and a number of yet-to-be-identified civilian casualties. 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.”

Confirming the attack in a statement, the spokesman of the Niger Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said that terrorists attacked the village in the early hours of Monday.

The statement reads: “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.”

“The Commissioner of Police, Bala Kuryas, has deployed the Police Explosive Ordinance Unit (EOD) to sweep the area with a view to defusing 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”.