No fewer than 8,150 persons were displaced from Galadima-Kogo and environs in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger when an aircraft bombed the area on Jan. 24.
Many members of a vigilance group in the area were killed, while their commander sustained serious injuries. The area bombed had Internally Displaced Persons taking refuge at some facilities.
Secretary to Niger State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Matane, said in Minna on Saturday that the aircraft belonged to the Nigeria Air Force and was unaware that security personnel was in the area.
He added that it was not a mysterious aircraft as being rumoured. He said the government was also aware of the presence of IDPs in the area.
Matane said the state government had discussed with Shiroro Local Government Council officials and the management of the North-South Power (NSP) facilities in the area that provide shelter for the IDPs.
Last week, several media organizations reported that an unidentified number of people mostly men of a local vigilance group were killed by a bomb from an aircraft in Galadima Kogo community of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Many of the vigilance men including their commander were reported injured in the blast.
