Gunmen attack mining site in Niger, kill scores, abduct 4 Chinese Nationals, others
Gunmen on Wednesday attacked a mining site in Ajata – Aboki, Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government, Niger State killing several persons, and injuring many others even as they abducted four (4) Chinese Nationals.
The Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths of the state, Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki as well as the Niger State Government confirmed the incident in separate statements issued on Thursday.
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“During yesterday’s deadly encounter, a large number of casualties were instantly recorded at the said mining site being owned and managed by Chinese Nationals as the AK-47 rifle wielding terrorists gunned down their victims at sight as well as shot sporadically into the air thereby leading to more devastating consequence,” Kokki’s said in a statement.
The statement added, “Information at my disposal further proved that about thirteen (13) people including seven (7) mobile policemen attached to the mining site probably as guards (providing security cover for the expatriates) and six (6) other civilians were gruesomely killed through an ambush while scores of others who sustained various degrees of multiple gunshot injuries (some in critical condition) have been taken to various medical facilities for treatment.
“They succeeded in kidnapping an unspecified number of Chinese nationals and they are being held hostage. It was terrific and terrible and the scene was bloody!”
Although Kokki noted that the Nigerian Army stationed nearby swung into action to repel the attack but several officers were gunned down by the assailants.
In an update, he added that the death toll had risen, noting that “almost thirty (30) soldiers have been discovered in the bush and confirmed dead”.
He said more bodies are still being expected as search efforts have intensified.
