By Dare Akogun
The Nigerian Army has said that a yet-to-be-confirmed number of soldiers have been killed by bandits during an exchange of fire in Niger State, Nigerian Army authorities said on Thursday.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja confirmed that the incident occurred on Wednesday.
Recounting what transpired, he explained that troops deployed in Niger State responded to a distress call at a mining site in Shiroro Local Government Area was under attack by bandits.
“Enroute to the location, the troops ran into an ambush staged by the criminal elements. Sadly, a number of personnel paid the supreme price in the fierce firefight that ensued,” said.
Nwachukwu who did not give the specific number of security operatives killed by the outlaws.
“Subsequently, the location has been reinforced and troops are on the trail of the criminals with some already neutralised.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division has moved to the location to take charge of the follow-on operations.”Sources said.
Upon arrival at the scene, the gunmen who were wielding AK-47 rifles opened fire on the people at the site, killing several persons in the process.
They identified those killed as seven policemen probably attached to the mining site as guards and six other civilians, while an unconfirmed number of persons, including four Chinese nationals, were missing.Stressing that soldiers nearby moved to repel the assailants, the sources said several of them were killed by the bandits with nearly 30 bodies recovered from the bush.
