Bandits kill 17, rustle livestock in fresh attacks on Niger communities

Tragedy struck at the weekend in Niger State, as no fewer than 17 persons, including a father and his son, were killed when gunmen suspected to be bandits laid siege on some villages in Mashegu, Lavun and Wushishi local government areas of the state.

Several others were said to have fled their residential  homes following  the attacks, which allegedly occurred from 12:00 noon till around 8:00pm on Saturday.

In a related development, In Mashegu Local Government Area of the state,  the villages attacked were Sahon-Rami, Igbede, Chekaku, Ubegi, Maishankafi and Poshi, though in separate attacks carried out by the gunmen.

In a swift reaction, the Press Secretary to the Hon. Chairman, Mashegu Local Government Council, Mohammed A. Isah, informed our correspondent that the Chief of Staff to the Chairman, Mashegu Local Government Council, Umar Ubegi, and his father were reportedly killed during the attack.

Tribune Online learnt that the Village Head of Poshi was also murdered in cold blood with about seven other victims in Sahon-Rami and Maishankafi.

“They moved from one village to the other on motorcycles, killing and abducting several persons. They also rustled yet unascertained numbers of livestock belonging to villagers. 

“About 13 communities were sacked and many people have fled for their dear lives for fears of being killed by the marauders who were carrying sophisticated arms.”

“The atmosphere in our local government is tensed now as a result of the violent attacks on the helpless people, especially, residents in the council areas. The bandits who have no respect for the sanctity of human lives had been carrying out their dastardly acts since last Friday. 

“Though only one village was attacked last Friday which was Sahon-Rami. The remaining villages were attacked the following day, Saturday, 26th February 2022,” he started.

In another development, in Lavun Local Government Area, no fewer than about 10 communities were said to have been attacked, leaving about three persons dead while three  others were abducted and taken away to a yet unidentified criminal hideout of their abductors.

The villages attacked in Lavun Local Government Area of the state included Egbako, Dabban, Kupa, Ndaruka, Tsogi, Mawogi, Yemi, Managi, Kanko and Gogaga respectively.

A resident of Egbako, one of the communities attacked by the armed bandits, Yakubu Mohammed said, “they started the operation around 12:00pm, moving from one community to another. For now, we have only discovered the dead bodies of three persons. They also went away with three others alive .”

Mohammed noted that the affected communities were 36 kilometers away from Bida, and less than 30 kilometers drive away from the Wadata palace of Etsu Nupe, HRM, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar in Bida township of the state.

Further checks by the Tribune Online revealed that the attacks allegedly disrupted the Batati weekly market, along Mokwa-Bida road, as traders abandoned their wares and fled for their lives.

However, concerted efforts made by our correspondent to reach  the Police Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun to confirm the unfortunate incidents were futile as calls to his telephone line was not successful because his handset was switched off as of the time of filing this report.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…

Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train

The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report.…