UNCONFIRMED NUMBER OF SOLDIERS KILLED AS BANDITS AMBUSH TROOPS IN NIGER STATE

A yet-to-be-confirmed number of soldiers have been killed by bandits during an exchange of fire in Niger State, Nigerian Army authorities said on Thursday. The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja confirmed that the incident occurred on Wednesday. Recounting what transpired, he explained that troops deployed in Niger State responded to a distress call that a mining site in Shiroro Local Government Area was under attack by bandits.

Nwachukwu said the troop on their way to the location ran into an ambush staged by the criminal elements, adding that a number of personnel paid the supreme price in the fierce firefight that ensued. However, sources said upon arrival at the scene, the gunmen who were wielding AK-47 rifles opened fire on the people at the site, killing several persons in the process. They identified those killed as seven policemen probably attached to the mining site as guards and six other civilians, while an unconfirmed number of persons, including four Chinese nationals, were missing.