Bandits kill 28, abduct scores in Niger communities

Bandits have killed not less than 15 farmers and 13 vigilante members, while abducting scores of people including women and girls from various communities in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

The farmers were killed on Saturday, a day after 13 vigilante members were killed and many villagers abducted in Kusharki village.

A community leader in one of the villages who confirmed the attack but preferred hidden identity for security reasons, claimed that the bandits have resumed attacks with full force in some villages in the local government.

Speaking with Channels TV, the community leader who called on the state government and security agencies to come to their aid to ameliorate their hardship, said that the community had been under siege by bandits in the last two weeks as the situation had worsened.

The Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Mohammed Sani Musa, also confirmed the attack on Sunday, and expressed concern that the bandits had resumed attacks in four local government councils of Rafi, Paikoro, Munya and Shiroro that form part of his constituency.

Senator Shehu Sani, former Kaduna Central senator, who also confirmed the attack in a tweet via his Twitter handle @ShehuSani, on Sunday, said, “We are now in the raining season. Yesterday, terrorists raided some villages in Niger State, North Central Nigeria, killed 25 farmers and abducted others.

“In some parts of Kaduna state, peasant farmers have to pay terrorists to enable them access their farms.

“The past Government has tried the following strategies and all have failed. Dialogue with the terrorists,appeasing terrorists with cash, shutting down telecom, banning the sale and use of motorcycles, banning mining activities, Carpet bombing, extending tenure of service chiefs, endless close door meetings with security chiefs, encouraging self defence and prayers against terrorists.

“We want result in this area now. Security challenges should be an urgent and top priority for this administration.”

We are now in the raining season.Yesterday,terrorists raided some villages in Niger State,North Central Nigeria,killed 25 farmers and abducted https://t.co/m0jLvpVmG7 some parts of Kaduna state,peasant farmers have to pay terrorists to enable them access their farms.
The past…

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) June 11, 2023

The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who also confirmed the attack, however could not confirm the exact casualty figure, rather, he said that the police in collaboration with the military have been dispatched to Yakila, Tegina, Kagara, Pandogari, Kusherki and other villages to restore normalcy in the affected areas.