Suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched a brazen attack on the military base in Allawa town, located in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. The assault, which occurred yesterday, forced residents to flee their homes in fear of being targeted for violence or abduction.
Reports indicate that the insurgents, numbering approximately 200 and armed with firearms, descended upon the town on motorcycles in the early hours of the morning. They overwhelmed the military base, sacking the personnel on duty, before spreading out to terrorize the residents of Allawa and neighboring villages.
The attack is believed to be a retaliatory response to a recent clash between the military and insurgents in the area, during which the military reportedly neutralized around fifty insurgents. This escalation in violence has exacerbated tensions and put civilians at heightened risk.
Eyewitnesses reported widespread looting, with the assailants plundering homes and seizing cash, food supplies, and other valuables from the local population. The extent of casualties, both among civilians and military personnel, remains unclear at this time.
In a separate incident, bandits targeted the palace of the emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Mohammed Bunu, though security agents successfully evacuated him to safety in the state capital, Gusau. The attempted kidnapping underscores the pervasive security challenges facing the region, as armed groups continue to operate with impunity.
