Thusday, April 25, 2024 –The Nigerian military has closed its camp and withdrawn troops in Allawa community in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State following the recent killing of four soldiers and two officers by bandits.
Allawa community is one of the communities
facing severe attacks by bandits and terrorists in Shiroro LGA.
According to a source, the
withdrawal of troops, which residents said came to them as a surprise due to
renewed attacks in the community and its neighbouring communities, had caused
hundreds of locals including women, the elderly and children to vacate their
houses, trekking at least 50 kilometres to safe places.
Residents told the publication that they woke up on Thursday seeing the
soldiers removing their tents in preparation to leave the community.
One of the locals, who preferred anonymity,
said that the withdrawal came two days after the military vehicle stepped on a
landmine along the Allawa-Pandogari road, leading to an unspecified number of
casualties.
“I don’t know if you were aware that on
Tuesday, April 23, 2024, the military personnel on their way to Allawa stepped
on an IED and causalities including death were recorded. Some of them are in
the hospital. The incident happened on Allawa-pandogari road Tuesday,” he said.
The Tuesday incident came less than a week
after six soldiers and a vigilante lost their lives in an ambush at Roro when
bandits launched multiple attacks on Roro, Karaga, Rumace and other farming
communities.
Another resident, Mallam Yahuza Allawa,
said that dozens of residents had vacated their communities as early as 4am on
foot and were heading towards Erena, Gwada, Kuta or Zumba for safety.
“This is a serious issue. Please help us
report this issue. We are leaving our communities now and there are
insufficient motorcycles and vehicles to take us out as quick as possible. We
are afraid. Maybe if you report it, the government will bring vehicles to
evacuate us to safe places. Our belongings are there, we can’t pack them,” he
said.
“Wallah, hundreds of us have left our
communities already. We cannot take Pandogari Road because it is not safe. So,
we are moving to either Erena, Gwada, Kuta or Zumba. And from Allawa to Erena
which is the only exit road for us is at least 42km and we are trekking because
there are no vehicles to convey us. We have old people among us. Many people
left their homes as early as 4am before early morning prayers. We cannot wait
to be killed by these heartless bandits and Boko Haram."
He said the fleeing farmers have hundreds
of goats and other domestic animals and other valuables, including foodstuffs
that they were not able to evacuate due to a lack of vehicles.
He said Allawa and adjoining communities
had relied on the presence of the military fh the withdrawal, residents
said they had become more vulnerable to attacks, forcing them to vacate their
communities
The Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brigadier
General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed (RTD) who confirmed the withdrawal of the
troops to the Daily Trust said it was part of the arrangements by the military
to re-strategise on best ways to tackle insecurity.
"The whole thing is about administrative arrangements by the
military to re-strategise to return in full strength,” he said in a reply to
the publication.
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