As the renewed attacks from suspected Boko Haram persist, the people of Allawa and neighboring communities in Niger State have fled their ancestral homes following the withdrawal of military base in Shiroro local government area of the state.
It was reliably gathered that about seven communities together were burnt down by the recent activities of the suspected Boko Haram insurgents in the area.
Our correspondents further gathered that during the recent attack, dozens of goats, sheep and other domestic animals, bags of foodstuffs as well as vehicles and motorcycles were burnt down in Allawa, Bassa and other communities by the suspected terrorists.
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However, the military has purportedly closed its camp and withdraw its troops from Allawa community in following the killings of some six soldiers and their Commander, in an ambush when military vehicle hit an object suspected to be landmine along Allawa-Pandogari road in Rafi LGA of the state.
The withdrawal of troops, which residents said came to them as a surprise due to renewed attacks in the Allawa and its neighbouring communities, had caused hundreds of locals including women, the elderly and children to vacate their houses, trekking several kilometers to safe havens in Kuta, Gwada and Minna respectively.
One of the residents of the area, who identified himself simply as Ishaku, told journalists in Minna that the Niger state government has abandoned them to their fate, while expressing shock and disbelief as they woke up seeing the soldiers removing their tents in preparation to leave the community unannounced.
This, according to the victims, is considered failure on the part of the state government who had earlier assured farmers in the affected areas during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit and official flag-off of agricultural equipments at the Minna airport, that all farmers would be secured for all-year farming activities in the state.
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