According to the Niger State administration, a bandit attack on a mining site occurred in the Ajata Aboki hamlet, Shiroro Local Government Area.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Minna, the state’s internal security commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Umaru, acknowledged the attack.
Umaru said that the bandits assaulted the area on Wednesday at around 6:00 p.m. and abducted four Chinese nationals as well as an unknown number of other persons.
He added that in response to a distress call, the government quickly sent a joint security team to the region.
“Consequently, the joint security team engaged the terrorists and they were yet to determine the number of casualties from both sides.
“However, a yet to be ascertained number of workers in the mining site including four Chinese nationals were reported to have been abducted.
“Security forces were reinforced for the manhunt of the remaining terrorists as some of them were neutralised and rescue of the injured victims including security personnel,” Umaru added.
The commissioner said that those injured had been evacuated to government hospitals for treatment.
“While the Niger government commiserates with heads of security agencies in the state and families of the slain personnel, the state government assures that their sacrifices will not go in vain.
“The state government acknowledge all the efforts of the joint security operatives and that of the communities toward taming the spate of insecurity in some parts of the state,” he added.
Umar exhorted the security guards to carry out their constitutionally required duties despite any dangers.
He assured them that the state government would continue to provide them all the support they required to put an end to banditry in the state.
The commissioner added that Governor Abubakar Bello had given security agencies instructions to ensure the victims’ safe return.
