Men of the Nigerian Army have repelled a planned attack on a military base in Sarkin-Pawa, the headquarters of Munya Local Government Area of Niger State, by suspected terrorists.
According to reports, the terrorists had already taken positions close to the military base around 2:23am when the troops responded and engaged them in a gun duel.
A military source who described the success as one of a kind because no life was lost on the side of the soldiers said the troops were strengthened by the swift response of a reinforcement of troops who drove to Sarkin-Pawa in a few minutes from Minna, the state capital to save the situation.
Salis Mohammed Sabo, the spokesperson for the Coalition of Shiroro Association, said “Terrorists attacked the military camp in the late hours but unfortunately for them, the gallant soldiers were on alert.
“The terrorists came in hundreds trying to dislodge the military base. The military engaged them in a gun duel, which lasted for about two hours until the military called for reinforcement and successfully neutralized them.”
He said the energy and passion the security operatives had exerted in recent times in the fight against terrorists in the area had restored their hope.
Reacting to the development, the Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, said the planned attack would have been devastating if not for the swift response by soldiers in Sarkin-Pawa and the reinforcement team from Minna.
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mary Noel-Berje, commended the military and other security agencies for their swift response.
“The government and the people of Niger State are truly hopeful with the way our security operatives always respond to attacks despite the poor nature of the terrain in which they fight the enemies of the state.
“The state is in closed collaboration with the federal government to ensure that no stone is left unturned to put an end to these criminals that have held farming communities to ransom, denying them access to their means of livelihood,” the statement said.
Two weeks ago, the terrorists killed at least 15 soldiers of the 45 Battalion, Bida who were on a rescue mission following an attack on a mining site being managed by Chinese nationals at Ajata-Aboki in Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of the state. They also killed seven policemen during the attack.
