A Nigeria Air Force (NAF) aircraft bombed Galadima-Kogo and environs in Shiroro Local Administration Area of Niger State on January 24, displacing 8,150 people, according to the state government.
Many members of a local vigilance group were murdered, and their commander was seriously injured, when a NAF jet struck the region, which also houses internally displaced people (IDPs).
Alhaji Ahmed Matane, Secretary to the Niger State Government, stated in Minna yesterday that the NAF aircraft was unaware that security officers were in the vicinity.
He went on to say that it was not a strange aircraft, as had been speculated.
Matane stated that the state government had met with Shiroro Local Government Council officials as well as the managers of the North-South Power (NSP), which provides housing for IDPs.
Malam Ibrahim Bahago, Youth Leader in Galadima-Kogo, claimed the community was informed on Tuesday that bandits were passing through the region.
He claimed that vigilantes, along with other security personnel, attempted to follow the robbers’ path but were ambushed. Bahago accused the state administration of failing to care for the victims.