The death toll of the number of security personnel who were massacred by some terrorists who have been identified as bandits last week in Shiroro, Niger State has risen as some more bodies are being discovered in the bush.
According to Sani Kokki who is the convener of Concerned Shiroro Youths of Niger State, who made the announcement in Minna on Sunday, some more bodies are being discovered by the locals.
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Kokki stated that the body of a mobile police officer was recovered in the bush by residents on Saturday evening.
“Yesterday evening, a dead body of a mobile policeman was discovered by a passerby local around a nearby bush not too far from the crime scene,” he said.
He also said that the death toll has risen to 48 as against the 42 earlier reported by Africa Today News, New York
“Based on thorough and reliable local findings as at this evening, the death toll has risen to 48,” Kokki said.
The youth representative gave a breakdown of how the figure was arrived at as 34 soldiers as against 31 reported by our correspondent, eight mobile policemen as against seven, and six residents.
“The breakdown as at last count shows that: 34 soldiers have been confirmed dead; 8 mobile policemen have been confirmed dead, and six locals/civilians have been confirmed dead,” Kokki said.
In another report, the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has openly described Thursday’s dastardly bandit attack in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State where expatriates were kidnapped as a direct assault on Nigeria which will not be allowed to go unpunished.
President Muhammadu Buhari had also paid tributes to the gallant men of the security forces who had lost their lives in the process of defending the attack by the bandits.
This was disclosed in a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, on Friday.
“We honour our security forces, and particularly those brave souls who have given their lives fighting against the evil that is terrorism. They constitute the best that Nigeria has to offer and we remember each of them.
“Sadly, Nigeria’s fight against terrorism continues. It is a battle that is taking its toll on all of us. But we shall not relent, nor shall we surrender.