No fewer than 11 top officials of the Joint Security Task Force have been killed, while several other members were seriously injured by gunmen in Galadiman Kogo in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
An unconfirmed number of villagers were also reportedly killed by the gunmen in the attack, as corpses littered some areas in the communities.
While four members of the newly recruited local vigilance group meant to reinforce the operations of the task force in the communities were also reportedly killed.
It was learnt that the gunmen that were over 50 in number launched the attack on the task force’s camp in Galadiman, Kogo community, on Saturday afternoon, at about 3pm.
Others were injured and are in government facilities in Minna, the state capital, receiving treatment.
The gunmen took advantage of the rowdy market day in the community to launch the attack, a source revealed.
“The gunmen were earlier seen moving towards the village on Saturday morning from Allawa. We did not know that they were coming to attack the special hunters in Galadiman Kogo. They came through Galape and Kudodo, where they confiscated a vehicle and asked the driver to bring them to Galadiman Kogo. Some of them came on motorcycles, while others trekked. They were many; that was why they were able to overpower the security men,” a source said.
Confirming the attack was the Chairman of Shiroro LGA, Mallam Suleiman Chukuba, noting that the “situation was terrible.”
According to Sun, the Joint Security Task Force stationed at Kuchi in Munya has shut down the camp with immediate effect.
The security agents were seen moving out of the community in the early hours of Sunday with their belongings, sending fear and panic to the people who were afraid of more attacks by bandits.
This development has equally led to mass movement of people from Kuchi town, Guni, Sabon Kabula, Mararaban Zagzaga, and Chibani, were seen moving out of the communities with their belongings for fear of being attack by the gunmen.
“The gunmen may be members of Boko Haram terrorist group, who currently assembling in Kusasu community in Munya,” a source disclosed.
