Hundreds of terrorists are believed to have been killed by troops of Niger Republic on Monday morning. The troops launched the attack around 3:15 a.m. on Monday, witnesses said.
They said the Nigerien soldiers killed over 100 armed criminals and burnt their hideout in Burqusuma, a border community between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
Neither the Nigerian Army nor its Nigerien counterpart has confirmed the attack but Bashar Altine Isa, the Chairman, Movement For Social Justice, Sokoto, and other residents confirmed it.
Altine said: “the troops arrived in large numbers in the middle of the night when the bandits were probably sleeping in their camps, they attacked and killed over 100 bandits, as a result, burnt their motorcycles and arrested many of them.”
He said one of the most important information from the operation that lasted for hours was “the arrest of the notorious bandits and informant to the group, Sarkin Fawa Shago. He is currently in the custody of Niger military.”
A resident of the community, who gave his name as Magaji, told HumAngle that “when the military arrived, we all ran away, this is not the first time Niger military is coming to our community in pursuit of terrorists.”
Asked whether the soldiers killed any civilian,or destroyed the properties of the villagers, Magaji responded that “after a fierce gun duel, some of the bandits retreated while others escaped into the forest with gunshot wounds.
“So, I don’t know if there are any civilian casualties yet because most of us fled to safety and still assessing the situation.”
Sabon Birni District, 175km from the state capital, Sokoto, has in recent times been repeatedly attacked by armed groups.
On Wednesday, May 27, armed criminals on motorcycles killed over 60 people with an undisclosed number missing in a string of attacks in the villages of Sabon Birni and Isa local government areas of Sokoto State.
Sources told HumAngle that the troops were sighted at Dan Ayagi community on the border close to Bangi in Niger Republic.
Sources said the Nigerien soldiers were protecting their border communities from frequent armed attacks, especially from the axis of Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
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The Nigerien troops did very well,then.