Many gods were said to have been killed in an airstrike by a yet-to-be-identified aircraft in Galadima Kogo, a community in Shiroro Local Government Area. Niger Stateon tuesday
Several members of God’s group, including himself, were also injured in the shelling, locals said.
The members of the vigil were bombed as they prepared to fight off an attack by terrorists who had previously attacked their community.
A community leader told PREMIUM TIMES that during the attack, several villagers were abducted and several herds of livestock were destroyed.
The community leader, who asked not to be named for security reasons, confirmed the incident over the phone.
“It’s unbelievable. So far, I cannot say how many people have died, but I know it is many,” he told PREMIUM TIMES.
“What I know is that the two dead people in the Hilux van were taken out of the camp.
“It is the people who have been protecting us against these bandits and since many of them have died, we are in the hands of the armed men,” added the source.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Human Affairs, Emmanuel Umar, confirmed the incident but did not confirm the number of dead or injured.
“The government is on the alert because we are already fighting with the survivors and the injured and how to restore peace in the area,” added the commissioner.
Neither the Nigerian army nor the air force have commented on the airstrike. However, the air force has regularly carried out airstrikes to target terrorists operating in rural communities in the state. Sometimes civilians, including children, are victims of these attacks, which are then covered up by the authorities, An investigation from PREMIUM TIMES has been found.
Tuesday’s incident came barely three days after three people were killed and three others abducted in Gwada town in the same local government area.
Niger, in north-central Nigeria, is one of the states most concerned by terrorist groups, locally known as bandits. The gangs have killed thousands of people and kidnapped many more, mostly in rural communities in the affected northern states.
Other states affected by banditry include Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna.
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