Grave loss in Niger community as bandits kill village head, ten others and kidnap 24

Tragedy as eleven people including the village head of Kusherki in Rafi local government area of Niger state, the Dakacin Kusherki, Alhaji Masud Abubakar have been reportedly killed by armed bandits in Munya.

The wife of the slain village head and 23 other villagers were also kidnapped by bandits in Munya Local Government Area.

WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the bandits numbering up to fifty invaded the communities on motorcycles armed with AK47 rifles and other dangerous weapons.

It was also learnt that the raid started at about 12:30 on Tuesday and lasted till around 2:pm unabated.

According to report, the armed bandits rode from village to village, shooting sporadically and ended up killing eleven people including the village head.

Among the eleven killed were five members of the local Vigilante and other youths supporting the group.

They were also said to have moved from house to house and carted away with cash, valuables and foodstuffs.

Speaking on the sad development, Mr James Isaac Jagaba who is the Secretary of Munyan Local Government confirmed the incident but he could not ascertain the number of kidnap victims.

”I cannot give details of what actually happened now but members of the Vigilante are still battling with the bandits.” he stated.

In a statement signed and released by Mrs. Mary Noel-Berje, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, the state government confirmed the Kusherki incident and abduction in Munya.

The Governor said the increasing activities of kidnappers and bandits in the state is becoming a nightmare to the people.

He described as callous and regrettable, the murder of the nine people and the traditional title holder and challenged the security agencies to intensify their search to ‘fish-out’ and ensure that the perpetrators of such heinous acts are brought to justice.

“The situation, particularly in the last 72 hours, has become regrettably alarming! While efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the abducted NSTA passengers, we heard that of Kusherki and other areas. We are witnessing these attacks now, almost, on daily basis and it is worrisome”, the statement said.

Niger State has witnessed the influx of armed bandits in recent times, making sporadic attacks at villages, maiming, killing and abducting people in some local government areas of the state.