Explosion kills scores in Niger State community

Scores of residents have reportedly been killed after an explosion rocked the Galkogo community, in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, according to The Punch.

According to several accounts of the incidents, the explosion in the community was caused by an airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force while another one said dynamites were thrown at the residents by some bandits.

A resident identified as Tanko Erena said the explosion from NAF airstrikes occurred when some officials of the Joint Security Task Force were on patrol in the area.

Erena said it was possible the occupants of the NAF fighter jet which carried out the aerial bombardment did not know that those affected were JTF members.

His words: "I believe the occupants of the fighter jet thought that the JTF members were bandits because there is really no reason to justify bombing them like that. “I can’t tell you how many bodies were removed from where the incident occurred but I saw two vehicles that carried bodies from the scene.”

In another report, Sahara Reporters said that the explosives were thrown into the community by some terrorists operating in the area.

Citing a Twitter post made by a security analyst, the report claimed that residents of the Shiroro community sent Save Our Soul (SOS) messages after the incident occurred.

The analyst quoted by the online newspaper said using the handle, @secmxx: "Residents of Galadiman Kogo area close to the Shiroro dam in Niger State are sending multiple messages over a series of explosions in the area, there are unconfirmed reports of casualties.

"The identities of the culprits are still sketchy.”

The Niger state commissioner for internal security and humanitarian affairs, Emmanuel Umar, the state police command spokesperson, DSP Wasiu Abiodun and the NAF's spokesman, Air Commodore Wap Maigida could not be reached for reactions to the incident.

NBA