NAF airstrike: We are not aware of residents in affected communities – Niger govt

The Niger State government has said it was not aware people were living in Kurebe community in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state where the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrike reportedly killed six children and destroyed houses.

The state government said the place was assumed to be empty due to sustained banditry operations in the area for quite some time.

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The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security, Emmanuel Umar, who stated this on Thursday in Minna, the state capital, confirmed that there were ongoing air and ground operations by the military and other security agencies in the state.

“To the best knowledge of the state government, there are no civilians resident in these areas for some time now due to the infiltrations and activities of the terrorists which forced the locals to seek shelter as IDPs in other parts of the state,” he said.

Umar said the state government welcomed the ongoing intensified military operations in neighbouring states and in some local government areas in the state which includes Shiroro, Munya and others aimed at neutralising bandits and terrorists in the environment.

He said the efforts of the joint operations had yielded a lot of successes which the state was happy with as many bandits and terrorists had already been eliminated in the affected LGAs.

He added that as part of joint efforts, the state government in conjunction with security agencies had repelled bandits’ attacks in Shiroro and Munya LGAs and rescued many abductees.

“While the state government appreciates the victories recorded during these operations, it also looks forward to sustained operations to eradicate bandits from the state.”