Gunmen, numbering over 50, on Saturday afternoon lunched one of the bloodiest attacks in recent time, targeting the Joint Security Task Force in Galadiman Kogo, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, killing no fewer than seven of their top commanders.
Several other members of the Joint Security Task Force were also seriously injured and are receiving treatment in Minna.
Also killed in the attack were four members of the newly-recruited local vigilantes to reinforce the operation of the Joint Security Task Force operating in communities in the area.
Unspecified number of the villagers were caught in the cross fire and killed by the gunmen as corpses littered everywhere in the community;
The gunmen were said to have lunched the attack on the Joint Security Task Force camp on Saturday at about 3pm when they were all in.
The gunmen, according to a source close to the community, took advantage of the rowdy market day in the community to lunch the attack on the camp.
The attack, which some villagers alleged might not be unconnected with last weeks killing of scores of the gunmen and recovery of over 500 animals by the Joint Security Task Force in the area, saw the burning of houses, vehicles and other properties belonging to members of the community.
The entire Galadiman Kogo has been deserted as hundreds of the community members have relocated to nearby Zumba, where they are taking refuge.
According to our source, the gunmen were earlier seeing moving towards the area in their number in the morning of Saturday from Allawa area, adding: “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 overpowered the security people.”
The Chairman of Shiroro Local Government Area, Mallam Suleiman, Chukuba confirmed the attack on Galadiman Kogo, but was not forthcoming with details of casualties.
Chukuba however said “the situation was terrible”.
Meanwhile following the bloody attack on Galadiman Kogo, our correspondent gathered that the Joint Security Task Force stationed at Kuchi in Munya Local Government Area of the state has shut the camp with immediate effect.
They were seeing moving out of the community in the early hours of Sunday with their belongings, sending fears and panic to the people.
This development has equally led to mass exodus of people from Kuchi town and other communities around Sarkin Pawa for fear of being attacked by the gunmen who will have be having a field day due to the relocation of the Joint Security Task Force from the area.
As at the time of filing this report at 11am on Sunday, people from Kuchi, Guni, Sabon Kabula, Mararaban Zagzaga and Chibani were seeing moving out of the communities with their belongings.
A source from Sarkin Pawa in Munya Local Government Area told our correspondent that the gunmen, whose appearance looks like that of Boko Haram, are currently assembling in Kusasu community in Munya LGA, “I have passed this latest information to the appropriate authority for their action.”
Daily Sun.