Terrorists attack mining site in Niger state, kill three soldiers, seven police officers, six workers and kidnap four Chinese expatriates to OLASMEDIA TV NEWSThis is what we have for you today:
17 people, including security officers, were killed when terrorists attacked a mining site operated by Chinese citizens in Ajata-Aboki in the Gurmana district of the Shiroro Local Government Area in Niger state.
It was gathered that the terrorists attacked the site on Wednesday afternoon, June 29, killing three soldiers, seven mobile police officers guarding the mine and six workers.
Several other people suffered varying degrees of gunshot wounds during the attack, while four Chinese nationals and other people were kidnapped.
The attackers, armed with advanced weaponry, stormed the community around 2 p.m. and headed straight for the mining site, firing at everyone they saw.
State Commissioner for Homeland Security and Humanitarian Affairs Emmanuel Umar, who confirmed the attack in a statement on Thursday, June 30, said the number of victims has yet to be determined.
“The government of the Nigerien state would like to confirm that on 29/6/2022 at approximately 1600 hours, based on a distress call received, armed bandits/terrorists invaded a mining site in Ajata Aboki village through Gurmana Ward of Shiroro LGA and a joint security team were mobilized to the crime scene in response to the emergency call,” the statement read.
“Therefore, the joint security team recruited the terrorists and the casualties on both sides had yet to be determined.
“However, an undisclosed number of workers at the mine site, including four Chinese nationals, are said to have been kidnapped.
“Security forces mobilized reinforcements for the manhunt for the remaining terrorists as some of them were neutralized and the rescued injured victims, including security personnel who suffered varying degrees of injuries, were taken to a state government medical facility for treatment.
“While the state government of Niger feels sorry for the heads of state security forces and the families of the killed personnel, the state government assures that their sacrifices will not be in vain.
“The state government recognized all the efforts of the Joint Security Agents and those of the communities in the state to tame the wave of insecurity in some parts of the state, hence it is ordering security personnel not to be discouraged in carrying out their sacred duties of protect citizens from all forms of threat, as the government will remain steadfast in providing the necessary support in all impacts
“His Excellency, Abubakar Sani Bello, the governor of the state of Niger, has therefore ordered that the security services must do everything possible to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped victims and to ensure that none of the terrorists escape.”
