Tensions rise in the top northern state, an explosion kills dozens of residents
The Galkogo hamlet in Niger State’s Shiroro Local Government Area was shaken by an explosion that claimed the lives of dozens of locals, according to the Newscrescent.
According to two stories of the events in the neighborhood, the explosions were the result of a Nigerian Air Force bombing, while a third alleged that robbers tossed dynamite at the villagers.
Tanko Erena, a resident of the neighborhood, spoke about the incident and claimed that the explosion occurred as a result of NAF airstrikes when members of the Joint Security Task Force were patrolling the area.
Erena guessed that the NAF fighter jet crew who launched the aerial bombardment was not aware that the victims were JTF members.
In a different allegation, Sahara Reporters claimed that local militants had tossed the explosives into the neighborhood.
The report asserted that after the tragedy, people in the Shiroro neighborhood sent Save Our Soul (SOS) messages, citing a security analyst’s Twitter tweet.
For comments on the event, it was impossible to reach the Niger state commissioner for internal security and humanitarian affairs, Emmanuel Umar, the state police command spokesperson, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, and the NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Wap Maigida.
