Over 67 Security Personnel Killed In Niger State In 10 Days
The killing of DPO Mohammed Umar and six others in a gun battle and over 60 vigilantes from March 6 to 15, 2022 puts the figure of security personnel lost in the fight against terror in Niger State, North-central Nigeria at not less than 67.
Not less than 72 security personnel, including members of the Nigeria Police and civilian security squads, were killed by terrorists in Niger State, North-central Nigeria between March 6 and 15, 2022.
These include DPO Mohammed Umar, a former ADC to former governor of Kebbi State, Usman Dakingari, two other police officers and four vigilantes who were killed on Tuesday, March 15. Also, about 60 local vigilantes were killed between Sunday, March 6 and 8.
Wasiu Abiodun, Niger State’s police spokesperson confirmed in a statement that Umar was killed in a gunfight alongside two police personnel and four vigilantes. The attack took place at Nasko village in Magama Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
Between March 6 and 8, about 65 persons —with 60 said to be vigilantes— were ambushed and killed by terrorists in border communities in Niger and Kebbi states.
This reportedly took place in Tungan Magajiya, Rijau LGA, Paikpa village in Munya LGA of Niger State, and Sakaba LGA of Kebbi. The victims were said to have been ambushed while on the trail of cattle rustlers.
Sources said vigilantes from both LGAs had formed a joint patrol in the area due to incessant terrorist attacks on the border communities.
Earlier this year, in response to multiple attacks, Abubakar Bello, Governor of Niger State, pointed out that “the terrorists are daring the capability and capacity of the military, hence we must demonstrate our military might through the approved coordinated air and ground assault to flush out the miscreants from our forests, their hideout”.
But these attacks have persisted nonetheless in LGAs such as Magama, Rijau, and Munya among several others, terrorised since the beginning of the year, an indication that the state is losing ungoverned spaces to terrorists.
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