BREAKING: Civilians reportedly killed in fresh NAF airstrike in Niger community
Civilians Reported Killed in Airstrike in Niger State
An undisclosed number of civilians have reportedly lost their lives following a military airstrike on the settlement of Guradnayi, located near Kusasu in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Witnesses say the incident took place early Sunday morning, with estimates indicating that at least 12 individuals were killed in a single residence.
“It happened around 5 a.m.,” said Auta Awododo, a local resident, who noted that one of the victims was his cousin’s son. “Twelve people were killed in his house. The rest were residents of Kusasu who were fleeing from the terrorists.”
Residents reported that armed men on motorcycles had been passing through the area while being pursued by military aircraft. One resident described the airstrike, stating, “The military first threw a bomb near the river in Kusasu. The second bomb was dropped at Guradnayi.”
As of now, the Nigerian Air Force has not released an official statement regarding the incident, and attempts to reach a spokesperson have been unsuccessful.
Locals noted that this is not the first instance of civilian casualties resulting from military airstrikes in Shiroro, with previous incidents also reported but left unresolved.
A security source confirmed that the armed group had moved from Kusasu into the neighboring Munya area, where they remain active. The source added, “As I speak to you now, they (terrorists) are operating in Kabula near Kuchi.” Although there have been no confirmed reports of abductions or killings at this time, it is reported that they have rustled numerous cattle from communities in Munya.
