By Correspondent in Minna.
The police in Niger state have confirmed the attack on Galadima Kogo in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger state, a development that claimed 10 lives including four personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp’s (NSCDC) and six civilians.
The NSCDC personnel who were said to be on rescue mission to a nearby village, unknowingly, ran into the explosives devices with their patrol vehicle on Monday.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Monday Bala Kuryas, told journalists on phone that IEODs were the handiwork of terrorist groups operating in the area.
“The gunmen invaded the community in the early hours of Monday in several motorcycles, first burnt down eight houses as well as the three buildings housing the Joint Security Task Force under renovation after last month attack in the area,” he disclosed.
The Police boss said that a combined detachment of police tactical squad and the military had been deployed to the troubled area for manhunt of the armed men, with a view to tracking them down.
“We are appealing to residents to assist security personnel deployed to the area with reliable information that could aid in apprehending the miscreants,”he urged.
While assuring citizens that efforts are being made to end the siege by the armed men, Kuryas warned, “We are all out to deal with any person or group of people undermining the peaceful atmosphere our area”.
Also speaking on the security situation in the area, the Chairman, Shiroro Local Governnent Area, Mallam Suleiman Chukuba, said the attack was launched by members of Boko-Haram, considering the sophistication of the weapons they were seen carrying, including the explosives.
“These are the handiwork of Boko-Haram not armed bandits because they were heavily equipped with sophisticated weapons, including explosive devices. This morning, Civil Defense vehicle ran into one of the explosive devices, their vehicle destroyed and many of them died,”he said.
The chairman explained that the NSDC personnel were on their way to one of the communities in Shiroro Local Governnent to ascertain the level of destruction by the gunmen before they ran into the explosive devices.
“Only two out of the number of NSCDC in the vehicle survived the explosion and are in critical condition, receiving treatment at a government facility in Minna, the state capital,”he added.
The chairman,who lamented sustained attacks by the combined forces of ISWAP, Boko-Haram and Armed bandit/Fulani militia said , “As I speak to you now, several buildings were affected, everything was set ablaze and the entire community, for now, is deserted.
“Right now, we cannot ascertain the total number of people that have been killed, the situation is quite serious and the entire area has been deserted,” he added.
