1st July, 2022
By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that its troops deployed in Shiroro area of Niger were ambushed while on a mission to deal with terrorists attacking miners in the area.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Thursday did not disclose the number of personnel, who paid the supreme price in the ambush that occurred on Wednesday.
But independent reports claimed that between six and 30 soldiers were killed in the ambush.
Seven mobile policemen were also said to have died, according to local sources.
Nwachukwu said the troops Wednesday responded to a distress call that some terrorists were operating a mining site.
He said the troops ran into an ambush staged by the criminal elements on their way to the location losing a number of personnel in fierce firefight that ensued.
According to him, the location has been reinforced and troops are on the trail of the criminals with some already neutralised.
He said the GOC of 1 Division had moved to the location to take charge of the follow-up operations.
Nwachukwu urged well meaning Nigerians to exercise some restraint in posting images emanating from attacks on personnel as some video clips had emanated from the incident.