By Ismail Auwal

Niger State Police Command have confirmed the death of no fewer than 13 people in two Niger villages in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.

The police said the deceased villagers were killed while harvesting their crops in Nukundna and Wurukuchi villages on Tuesday.

The state command spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun, said 13 persons were killed and not 37 as reported in some platforms.

According to the police, the assailants attacked villagers harvesting crops on their farm in Nakundna village, Shiroro council area.

Governor Abubakar Bello in a statement said the attack spread to another village called Wurukuchi.

The police spokesperson said a police tactical team led by the Area Commander in Shiroro had been drafted to the area. He said the incident was not immediately attended to due to the rough terrain and lack of communication network in the area.

Governor Bello, in a statement by his media aide, Mary Noel-Berje, described the attacks as insane and unacceptable. He added that the act was barbaric and inhumane.

According to the statement, “the governor commiserates with the victims of the attacks which occurred in Nakudna and Wurukuchi communities. He shared in the pains and grief of the victims, reiterating that more decisive actions would be taken to guarantee the lives of the inhabitants of the vulnerable communities.”

The governor said the worrisome part of the security challenges was the inability of the farmers to harvest their farm produce, which he said might trigger food insecurity in the state.

 Bello said a coordinated and simultaneous attack on the terrorists by security agents in the affected states would go a long way towards achieving success.