Tension Hits Niger State as Explosion Reportedly Kills Scores of Residents
- An explosion which reportedly hit the Galkogo community in Niger state has left several people dead
- The explosion is said to have affected mainly members of the Joint Security Task Force on patrol in the area
- According to two different narratives, the explosion was caused by an airstrike from the Nigerian Air Force or a dynamite thrown by bandits
Scores of residents have been reportedly killed in an explosion said to have rocked the Galkogo community, in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, The Punch reports.
Two accounts of the incidents in the community claimed that the explosions were caused by an airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force while another said dynamites were thrown at the residents by some bandits.
Source: Facebook
Speaking on the mishap, a resident of the community, Tanko Erena, said the explosion from NAF airstrikes occurred when some officials of the Joint Security Task Force were on patrol in the area.
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Erena said it was possible the occupants of the NAF fighter jet which carried out the aerial bombardment did not know that those affected were JTF members.
His words;
"I believe the occupants of the fighter jet thought that the JTF members were bandits because there is really no reason to justify bombing them like that.
“I can’t tell you how many bodies were removed from where the incident occurred but I saw two vehicles that carried bodies from the scene.”
Sahara Reporters also reports that the explosives were thrown into the community by some terrorists operating in the area.
Citing a Twitter post made by a security analyst, the report claimed that residents of the Shiroro community sent Save Our Soul (SOS) messages after the incident occurred.
The analyst with the handle, @secmxx was quoted by the online newspaper saying;
"Residents of Galadiman Kogo area close to the Shiroro dam in Niger State are sending multiple messages over a series of explosions in the area, there are unconfirmed reports of casualties.
"The identities of the culprits are still sketchy.”
The Niger state commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Emmanuel Umar, the state police command spokesperson, DSP Wasiu Abiodun and the NAF's spokesman, Air Commodore Wap Maigida could not be reached for reactions to the incident.
Bandits kill councillor, kidnap 49 villagers in Niger state
The reign of terror in northern Nigeria continued recently as armed bandits stormed some communities in Niger state.
A councillor in Shiroro local government area of the state, Saleh Alawa was killed during the latest attacks.
Two women scheduled to be married this weekend were also kidnapped among others during the attacks.
Nigerian troops kill bandits during clearance operations in Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara
In a related development, Nigerian troops under Operation Forest Sanity on Tuesday, January 17 encountered and engaged terrorists in a firefight in which two bandits were killed.
This was contained in a statement sent to Legit.ng on Thursday, January 19 by the Director, Defence Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Major-General Musa Danmadami.
According to the statement, two Ak 47 rifles and three Mounted Combat System were recovered from the insurgents.
Source: Legit.ng
