At least four Chinese nationals were kidnapped by bandits at a mining site in Ajata Aboki village, Erena Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State.
According to Sani Abubakar Yusuf Koki, co-convener of Concerned Shiroro Youths of Niger State, three soldiers, seven policemen, and six others were reportedly killed by the bandits during the attack on the mining site on Wednesday morning.
Koki said in a statement made available to journalists in Minna on Thursday that the mining site “owned and managed by foreign nationals has for a very long time become a place of attraction and a good target for criminals because of its juicy and lucrative disposition.”
“Three soldiers, seven mobile policemen attached to the mining site probably as guards (providing security cover for the expatriates) and six other civilians were gruesomely killed through an ambush, while scores of others sustained various degrees of multiple gunshot injuries, and some other victims who were in critical condition were taken to various medical facilities for medical treatment.”
Meanwhile, the state government has confirmed the attack and the kidnapping of the foreign nationals.
In a press statement, Mr. Emmanuel Umar, Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, said: “As a result, the joint security team engaged the terrorists,” adding that the number of casualties on both sides had yet to be determined.
According to the statement, a number of workers at the mining site, including four Chinese nationals, were abducted by the hoodlums.
According to the statement, “security forces mobilised reinforcement for the manhunt of the remaining terrorists as some of them were neutralised, and rescue of the injured victims, including security personnel, who sustained various degrees of injuries and were taken to a government medical facility in the state for treatment.”
It went on to say that “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 be in vain,” and that “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.”
The commissioner, on the other hand, urged security personnel not to be discouraged in carrying out their sacred duty of protecting citizens from all forms of threats, assuring them that the government will continue to be steadfast in providing them with the necessary support in all ramifications.
He went on to say that Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello has directed security agencies to go to great lengths to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped victims and that no terrorists escape.
