Residents of the Shiroro local government area of Niger State on Thursday he recounted how bandits attacked a mining site and killed 43 people, including 37 Nigerian security personnel.
PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that bandits invaded the mining site in the Ajata-Aboki community in the Shiroro local government area
Residents said that hundreds of terrorists on motorcycles invaded the mining site without restraint, killing and kidnapping people who worked on the site.
Coalition of Shiroro Associations (COSA) spokesman Salis Sabo, a lawyer, said the attack was unexpected as residents of the area had enjoyed relative peace for months, which they attributed to the success of the security measure implemented in the area. .
He said that as the armed men headed towards the mining site, they passed through several towns.
One of the soldiers killed in the attack.
Sabo said they reportedly told the villagers not to run, saying they did not come to attack them.
He said they shot and killed a villager who refused to tell them the best way to access the mine.
“The terrorists are believed to be Boko Haram/ISWAP who were not initially domiciled in the area and who are also not Nigerian. His long hair, pierced nose and mode of operation, chanting “Allahu Akbaar” point to that fact.
“They were grouped into four, some with camouflaged military uniforms, Mobile Police and some Vigilantes. They began to open fire after managing to kidnap the expats quietly. Seven mobile policemen were shot dead and two soldiers in the first shootout.
“Later at Unguwan Maji under Erena Ward where the military had planned to ambush the terrorists being their most likely exit route. But unfortunately, the military vehicle got stuck on the road due to bad terrain which then exposes their plans to terrorists, Sabo said.
The shooting between the military and the terrorist group started at 4 pm until the morning when the sound of gunfire could still be heard, Sabo said.
He said that many soldiers and mobile police are still missing.
According to the official, mining activities have been carried out there for more than two years despite security challenges in the area and the site has never been attacked.