Bandits wreak havoc in Niger communities  kill one, about 65 abducted 

Less than 48 hours after gunmen suspected to be armed bandits carried out violent attacks on some communities in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State, other bandits in the early hours of Wednesday also laid siege on Zagzaga community in the same local government area.

No fewer than about 65 rural community dwellers were said to have been abducted in the latest orgy of violence. One person was killed while several others suffered varying degrees of injuries by the daredevil bandits.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that among those abducted was a woman suspected to be the wife of the village head and sons of the local government councillor representing  Zagzaga ward.

It was further gathered that two local vigilante and some youths who attempted to retaliate the attack on the community narrowly escaped being killed. The vigilante group and the youths were among those seriously injured.

Sources close to the embattled community stated that the armed men invaded the community in the early hours of Wednesday and began to shoot indiscriminately.

In the ensuing melee,  about  65 community residents which included the wife of the village head were kidnapped and hurriedly taken away by the armed men to their hideouts in the forest.

The sources who would not want their names quoted in print said the armed bandits also went on a looting spree, breaking into the residential houses of the people of the communities and looting household items.

The sources added that the female victims among those that were abducted were forced to carry the looted items to a place where the bandits must have parked their vehicles.

Nigerian Tribune further gathered that operatives of the local vigilante were unable to withstand the superior firepower of the armed bandits in view of the fact that the gunmen outnumbered the vigilante group and were armed with sophisticated and assorted weapons.

Further checks revealed that save our souls messages were sent to the security agencies at Sarkin-pawa but up till the time the gunmen left the scene of the attacks, there was no response from the security agencies at the security posts.

it was further learnt that the Chairman Munya Local Government Alhaji Garba Mohammed Dazza went into an emergency security meeting in Sarkin- Pawa on Wednesday morning to fashion out a way out to end the incessant attacks by armed gunmen in the area.

Also, the secretary of the Local Government, Mr James Jagaba when contacted on phone confirmed the incident adding that he believed that the abductees were with their abductors.

Jagaba also confirmed that one person was killed and many others injured adding that the vigilante in the area are not well equipped to counter the gunmen.

Asked if a report has been made to the state government Jagaba answered in the affirmative saying “this type of report has become a regular occurrence, there is hardly a week that we don’t experience this type of thing and reports are usually made.”

On Monday, scores of armed bandits invaded the Kachiwe, Old Kabula and other communities in the same area during which some houses and a motorcycle were reportedly burnt by the armed gunmen.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Matane when contacted confirmed that incident but said he was yet to get the details of the attack.

The SSG assured that the government and the security agencies would promptly take action to address the situation, insisting that the gunmen could be fleeing from the ongoing military operations in Kaduna and Zamfara States.

The state shares boundaries with the two aforementioned states at the Munya and Shiroro local government area axis.

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