Air strike: Scores of Joint Security Task-Force members in Niger killed, others injured by unknown aircraft

By Admin://

Airstrike from an unidentified fighter jet has killed unspecified number of the Joint Security Task-Force members at Galkogo community in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident occurred on Tuesday (January 24, 2023) afternoon when men of the Joint Security Task-Force were on patrol in the area.

They were said to have been mistaken for bandits, although the villagers said there had been no threat of any bandit attack in recent times in the area, except for communities around Munya Local Government Area.

The number of the security men killed by the airstrike could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report, but it was gathered that two Hilux vans were seen about 4pm in evening of Tuesday, evacuating bodies to Minna where they were deposited at IBB Specialized Hospital in the Niger State capital.

The Commander of the Security Task Force who was seriously injured in the airstrike was also said to be receiving treatment at an undisclosed government medical facility in Minna, according to sources.

Sources also told our Correspondent close to Galkogo community that owing to the incident, the other members of the Joint Task-Force had to quickly move out of the community with all their belongings.

Consequently, members of Galkogo community and its environs reportedly started fleeing  their homes too for fear of being attacked by bandits.

It would be recalled that a similar incident two years ago led to the death of no fewer than 11 soldiers and 19 mobile policemen in Erena community in the same Shiroro Local Government Area.

Both the State government and the State Police Command had yet to issue a statement on the latest development as of press time.