Police ASP, NSCDC officer, 7 others killed in Niger attack

An Assistant Superintendent of Police and an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were among the casualties in a weekend attack by gunmen in Rafin Gona and BCC Gbagyi villages in Bosso local government area of Niger state.

Chairman of the local government area, Alhaji Isah Wakili said nine bodies were recovered, including those of the security operatives.

The chairman who conducted the Senator representing Niger East David Umaru and the House of Representatives member from the area Salihu Shandafi, round the affected villages on sympathy visit, said at least 6,000 people were displaced in the attack.

He said the breakdown of the displaced persons included 3000 villagers from Rafin Gona while over 2000 others were from BCC village, adding that about 1000 displaced Fulani were at IDP camp located inside a private farm belonging to former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Senator David Umaru described the attack as barbaric and complete disregard to human lives. “What I have seen is heart breaking; it is act of wickedness and complete disregard to human lives. This kind of situation is not acceptable,” he said.

The Niger State Police Command through the public relations officer DSP Bala Elkana confirmed the attack, which he said was a reprisal of an earlier incident.

“Four people were killed in the earlier attack, while four also lost their lives, including a police ASP and an NSCDC officer, in what we can say was a reprisal by herders,” he said.