By Umar Audu
Former Vice President and the flagbearer of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has commiserated with families of victims of the terrorist attack on a mining site in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
On Wednesday, terrorists had attacked the site, killing 43 persons including 30 soldiers and 7 Mobile Policemen.
Four Chinese expatriates were also kidnapped during the operation.
Commiserating with the victims’ families and the Nigerian Army via his social media handles, Mr Atiku said: “My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased, even as I condole with the Nigerian Army”.
Meanwhile, Governor Abubakar Bello has directed security agencies to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped victims.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security, Emmanuel Umaru, in a statement in Minna on Thursday, said the governor had urged the security personnel not to be discouraged in discharging their constitutional duties against all forms of threats.
“While the Niger government commiserates with heads of security agencies in the state and families of the slain personnel, the state government assures that their sacrifices will not go in vain.
“The state government acknowledges all the efforts of the joint security operatives and that of the communities toward taming the spate of insecurity in some parts of the state,” he added.
