No fewer than four security personnel were killed and several others injured on Thursday when heavily armed terrorists launched another deadly assault on communities in the Lakpma axis of Shiroro local government area of Niger State.
The attack, which occurred in the Dnasapa, Iburo, and surrounding villages of the Galkogo district, saw a coordinated onslaught by a mix of insurgent groups, including Boko Haram, ISWAP and bandits.
The assailants reportedly hoisted Boko Haram flags during the assault, confirming fears that the area has become a stronghold for extremist elements.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident happened while officers stationed at Galkogo were on a routine patrol.
They were ambushed by the insurgents, who outnumbered and outgunned them in a fierce gun battle that left four soldiers dead.
“This is a monumental loss,” said Babangida Wassa Kudodo, a concerned citizen of the area, in a statement after the attack,
“These officers are the last line of defence for our communities. Their loss is both tragic and unacceptable.”
The latest violence has sparked renewed outrage and urgent calls for government action. Residents and community leaders are appealing to federal and state authorities to immediately send reinforcements to the Galkogo base, which serves as the security hub for villages under constant siege.
Kudodo, while condemning the “barbaric” attacks, urged governments at all levels to “relook at the issues of insecurity in Lakpma and Shiroro with a view to bringing this madness to an end.”
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Over the past few years, Shiroro LGA has suffered repeated assaults from armed groups. The Lakpma axis in particular has become a flashpoint, with attacks forcing many villagers to flee their homes, abandoning farms, schools, and businesses.
Security experts say the convergence of insurgent groups in the region is a dangerous trend that requires a coordinated military and intelligence response, not just routine patrols. Locals fear that without immediate intervention, more lives will be lost, and the area will remain under siege.
“I pray for the repose of the souls of our departed comrades and the speedy recovery of the wounded,” Kudodo said in his statement, “But more than prayers, what we need now is urgent, decisive action.”
The Niger State Government and the military are yet to issue official statements on the latest attack as of the time of filing this report.
