The Niger State garrison town of Bassa, located in the Shiroro Local Government Area, was severely attacked by alleged Boko Haram terrorists early on Wednesday morning.
Local sources who talked with Premium Times said that intermittent gunfire has been heard around the community since about 5:30 a.m.
The attack marks yet another violent incident in a town that has seen its fair share of conflict, including a significant attack earlier this year where several soldiers, including a captain, were killed.
This incident had previously led to the withdrawal of troops from the area.
However, the government had redeployed joint security forces recently to bolster the town’s defense, allowing residents to return to their homes.
Sources report that as the attack commenced, security operatives instructed residents to remain indoors while they engaged the attackers.
The ongoing violence in Bassa is attributed to the presence of Boko Haram militants in the nearby Allawa forest reserve, turning the area into a frequent battleground.
The region has suffered extensively, with bandits and terrorists infiltrating from neighboring states such as Zamfara and Kaduna, utilizing the Kuyambana and Kamuku forest reserves as their pathways.
These criminal elements have inflicted severe hardships on the residents of Bassa, involving murder, kidnapping, rape, and other forms of violence.
