The Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of some of its personnel by criminals in Niger State while they were on official duty.
The Army in a statement on Wednesday evening signed by its spokesperson, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu said the dead personnel were on their way to respond to a distress call at the mining site when they ran into an ambush.
A gunfight between the criminals and the soldiers ensued after running into an ambush resulting in casualties on both sides, Nwachukwu confirmed.
He however added that the GOC 1 Division has moved to the location and taken over the area.
The explanation comes after reports that bandit terrorists kidnapped two Chinese nationals and killed thirteen security agents during an attack on a mining site in Niger State.
The attack was said to have occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Ajata, Aboki in Gurmana ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
In clarifying the attack, the Army however didn’t state the number of its personnel that lost their lives in the attack but appealed to members of the public sharing videos of the incident on social media to exercise restraint so families of those affected can be properly informed of the situation and won’t have to see it first on social media.
Nwachukwu also said the attack didn’t affect any national infrastructure has been claimed in some reports.
The Army statement tilted ‘NO ATTACK ON CRITICAL NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE…TROOPS AMBUSHED IN RESPONSE TO DISTRESS CALL IN SHIRORO’ reads in full: “On Wednesday 29 June 2022, troops of the Nigerian Army (NA) deployed in Shiroro general area responded to a distress call of bandits attack on people operating a mining site.
“Enroute the location, the troops ran into an ambush staged by the criminal elements. Sadly, a number of personnel paid the supreme price in fierce firefight that ensued.
“Subsequently, the location has been reinforced and troops are on the trail of the criminals with some already neutralized. The GOC 1 Division has moved to the location to take charge of the follow on operations.
“The NA notes that some clips of the incident have surfaced online and wish to encourage well meaning Nigerians to exercise some restraint in posting images of such occurrence, mindful that our brothers and sisters who may have lost their breadwinners deserve to be properly notified and not to get such information via the media. We mention this, mindful of the inalienable rights of citizens to use the social media which is respected.
“It is also necessary to clarify that activities of the criminals was not on any critical national asset or infrastructure.
“Furthermore, the NA calls on all Nigerians to continue to support the efforts of their military personnel who continue to confront the enemies of our dear nation.”
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