According to the Punch, scores of residents were killed in an explosion that rocked the Galkogo community in Niger State’s Shiroro Local Government Area.
Two accounts of the incidents in the community claimed that the explosions were caused by an airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force, while another claimed that bandits threw dynamites at the residents.
A resident of the community, Tanko Erena, spoke about the incident, saying the explosion was caused by NAF airstrikes while officials from the Joint Security Task Force were patrolling in the area.
Erena speculated that the occupants of the NAF fighter jet that carried out the aerial bombardment were unaware 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.