Niger: Military confirms 6 soldiers’ killing, launches manhunt

The military high command, on Sunday said marauding terrorists, who recently killed some of its personnel in Niger State will pay dearly for the dastardly act, saying they would be hunted down by fire by force.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, who stated this in an interview with our correspondent in reaction to a publication in Daily Trust’s Sunday edition, specifically said there would be “injurious consequences” for the act.

Daily Trust had reported how bandits ambushed and gunned down six soldiers at Roro, Karaga and Rumace communities, Bassa Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State on Friday night. A captain was also said to have been abducted during the incident.

This came barely a month after 17 military personnel, who were deployed on a peace-keeping mission to quell community clashes, were killed by suspected residents of Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust last night, Buba, a Major-General, said, “Sadly, once again, troops are making the ultimate sacrifice to secure the nation and citizens.

“However, there would be injurious consequences for those that perpetrate the killing of troops. We would hunt them down and hold them accountable for their actions against troops.”

In the same vein, the spokesman for the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu, described the development as a temporary setback, disclosing that other troops launched offensive attacks against the terrorists after the incident and neutralised dozens of them.

“Troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army deployed at Allawa and Erena, while on a fighting patrol to Karaga Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State had an encounter in an ambush staged by terrorists on 19 April 2024.

“Troops gallantly fought through the ambush and eliminated several of the terrorists as well as captured some of their equipment,” Nwachukwu, also a Major-General said via a statement issued on Sunday.

The senior military officer, on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja while sympathising with the family of the deceased, explained that the troops, who were killed, comprised two officers and four soldiers.

“In line with customs and traditions, the Nigerian Army authority has contacted the Next of Kins of the fallen heroes, while burial has been conducted for the deceased Muslim personnel with the consent and approval of their family members.”