A devastating attack by Boko Haram militants on a mining site in Angwar Maigiro, Niger State, has left at least 8 people dead and several others injured.
The victims, mostly youths, were rounded up and shot at close range for defying the militants’ warning not to return to the community.
This latest killing is coming barely two months after 20 members of the community were beheaded precisely on June 7th for venturing to return to the community and their bodiless heads displayed on social media by the terrorists.
Similar faith befell another three members of the community on June 12 when they were killed in the presence of their wives after they left IDP camp in Zumba to go and get some food stuff from the community.
Their wives were asked to go and tell the community that similar treatment will be given to any member of the community that ventured to return.
The militants have taken over the community, using it as an operational base for their activities, including mining and farming.
A prominent political leader from Shiroro local government area who did not want his name in print for security reasons indicated that no single human being is left in the community as the terrorists have converted their houses to their camps .
“As I speak with you there is no single person in Allawa and some neighboring villages. They have all left and most of them are staying in Erena, Zumba, Kuta and some are in Gwada, depending where you have relations.
“The Terrorists are using busy farming and doing mining around the Communities. There are some brave but loyal members of the communities who have volunteered to farm soya beans for them (Terrorists) just to enable them have peace and equally do their farming because there is no where for them to go.
“Since the military were dislodged from the community, there is no single security presence in the area. The government has equally kept sealed lip over the security situation in the area. The condition of the is better imagined than experienced, no farming and no food for them”, he lamented.
Senator Sani Musa, representing Niger East Senatorial district, has condemned the attack, calling on the federal government to intervene in the deteriorating security situation. The Niger State government has also expressed condolences, describing the attack as “inhuman and wicked.”
The government in a statement by the governor’s press secretary Bologi Ibrahim quoted the Acting Governor to have described the attack as satanic, insensible, atrocious and callous.
He says it is very disheartening and disturbing for fellow humans to carry out such a barbaric and vicious act on their fellow humans.
The Acting Governor, while commiserating with the affected families, community members and the entire people of Shiroro local government area over the unfortunate incident, prays Allah to repose the souls of the departed, comfort their loved ones and grant quick healing to those injured.
The attack has sparked widespread fear, with many residents fleeing the area. The situation remains dire, with no security presence in the area since the military was dislodged by the militants in April.