Gunmen kill 13, kidnap two Chinese expatriates in Niger

Thirteen persons have been murdered at a mining site in Ajata-Aboki in Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State.

The thirteen victims include seven mobile policemen and six civilians.

The mobile policemen were engaged to secure the mining site for the expatriates who were working on the Chinese owned mining site.

Several other persons sustained various degrees of injuries during the invasion which happened on Wednesday evening.

Emmanuel Umar, the Niger State Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, while confirming the incident, said that two Chinese nationals were kidnapped during the attack.

He said the number of casualties has not been ascertained by the security agency.

He added that the number of workers kidnapped at the mining site has not yet been ascertained.

The Commissioner revealed that a joint security force has been sent to the affected scene to hunt the terrorists and rescue the people unhurt.

“There was a rescue of the injured victims including security personnel that sustained various degrees of injuries. They have been taken to a government medical facility in the state for treatment,” he said.

“The state government acknowledged the efforts of the joint security operatives and that of the communities in the State towards taming the spate of insecurity in some parts of the state, hence, security personnel are enjoined not to be discouraged in discharging their sacred duties of protecting citizens against all forms of threats as the government will continue to be steadfast in providing them with the needed support in all ramifications.”