Bandits have invaded Chukuba ward in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, just as they shut down a fighter helicopter in the area and killed the pilot.
The Convener of Shiroro Concerned Youths, Mr. Sanni Kokki, who spoke on the phone with journalists on Friday in Abuja, said that the criminals ambushed and killed 13 soldiers along the Zungeru – Tegina road in Madaka ward of Rafi Local Government Area of the state.
Kokki, who noted that the unfortunate incident happened on Monday morning, said: “As we are talking now villagers living around the area are all now moving towards Erena.
“This is another problem again because people are being displaced from their traditional homes to unknown destinations.
“We are having another humanitarian crisis in our hands with the economic challenges confronting our people”.
Reacting to the incident, Chairman of Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) described the situation as highly unfortunate. He called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, despatch all its military and security arsenals to the troubled areas in order to save innocent lives and their property.
Musa said: “This is a very serious situation happening at a time we are happy that the issue of banditry is subsiding in our various communities in Niger State.
“The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency, deploy all its arsenal in order to curtail further spread.
“We have been having a reduction in cases of attacks but now it appears as if there is a serious escalation of the situation
“The most alarming situation now is that the attacks look like a planned work because the bandits are carrying out their operations simultaneously in many parts of Niger State.
“Government should please, as a matter of urgency, take drastic action on it and save lives and property of our people”.
