The Niger State Government has told the state police command in its claim over the death toll in the bandits’ attacks on two communities in the Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.
While the police in a statement earlier by its Public Relations Officer DSP Wasiu Abiodun claimed 13 people were killed, the government in its statement said “scores of villagers” were killed in the incident.
The government position was contained in a statement signed on behalf of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello by his Chief Press Secretary Mrs. Mary Noel Berje.
The government in a statement said: “Governor Abubakar Sani Bello describes the recent attacks in some communities of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State by a terrorist group, that left scores of villagers dead, as insane and unacceptable.
“The attacks led to the killing of many, houses and food barns were also burnt” the statement said.
Governor Bello said he shared in the pains and grief of the villagers and promised that more decisive actions would be taken to guarantee the lives of the inhabitants of the communities.
He also described the act “as barbaric and inhumane” adding that efforts would be intensified by government and security agencies to ensure that desperate terrorists, who are on the run, are captured and brought to justice.
“We are worried by the nefarious activities of these terrorists, desperation has been noticed amongst them as a result of the onslaught of security agents which has made them to target unsuspecting rural inhabitants.
“It is now time that full-fledged war should be declared on these unscrupulous elements since they have been proclaimed as terrorists. We cannot just allow these people to continue with this massacre”, he said adding that “a coordinated and simultaneous attack on the terrorists by security agents in the affected states will go a long way towards achieving success.
