Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have attacked Galadima Kogo district, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

In a coordinated attack between Saturday and Sunday morning, the jihadists neutralised security officials stationed at a military camp in the community before moving to rain atrocity on residents.

Sources told FIJ an unspecified number of people were killed, while the entire village was sacked. They said the village was relatively peaceful in the previous months due to the presence of security personnel in the territory, but they were withdrawn last month.

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TWO DAYS OF MURDER, ARSON AND RUSTLING 

On Saturday afternoon, the terrorists stormed Galadima Kogo on motorcycles, shooting sporadically.

A security camp established in the community was the first place attacked by the terrorists, according to Sani Yusuf Kokki, a youth leader in Shiroro LGA.

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They razed a patrol van used by the security officials before setting people’s houses on fire.

FIJ learned that the attack was a reprisal to the security triumphs against the terrorists in their previous encounters. 

The injured victims are being treated at various undisclosed health facilities and are “in dire need of urgent assistance to resuscitate them”, according to Kokki.

RESIDENTS WORKING WITH TERRORISTS

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“The villagers felt the informant in their midst had probably informed the insurgents of the withdrawal of security officers in the village,” said Kokki.

“Credible and thorough findings showed that the security personnel were relocated to the Kontagora axis.”

Ahmed Matane, Secretary to the Niger State Government, would not respond to FIJ’s inquiry into why security officers were withdrawn from the village.

Last year, news of internal informants aiding terrorism in Shiroro made headlines. This led to the arrest of a medical doctor as a major suspect.

FIJ’s findings showed that the doctor has not been arraigned in court. But there are rumours that he is still in custody.

VIGILANTES TO THE RESCUE

FIJ’s findings revealed that local vigilantes are covering up for the failure of the military and the police to adequately tackle terrorism. 

They are daring, formidable and fortified, said Kokki.

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However, some of them were eliminated during yesterday’s attack. Some of their bodies were razed.