Bandits on rampage in Niger, set houses ablaze, abduct five factory workers
Story from Ibraheem HAMZA
No fewer than five persons have been kidnapped and four villages destroyed by bandits within 48hours in Niger State.
In Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, Sources told newsmen that the bandits, who came in their numbers were well-armed with AK47 and abducted five factory workers.
The source said they invaded the town at about 9 pm on Saturday and went to a sachet water factory adjacent to Government Girls’ Secondary School in the community.
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“They caught us unawares because they came on foot. We just started hearing gunshots and we ran for our lives. They went to the sachet water factory where five persons were taken away,” one of the sources said.
In another attack, Armed bandits on Monday morning invaded communities in Munya local government area of Niger state setting houses ablaze and kidnapping villagers.
Neptune Prime reports that the villages destroyed by the bandits include New Kachiwe, Zagzaga and old Kabila In Munya local government Area of the state.
The bandits numbering about 100 and riding on motorcycles as well as armed with sophisticated weapons are also said to be expanding their operations to other villages in the area.
It was not known how many people have been killed or kidnapped because the entire area is still in total confusion with people running for their dear lives.
According to an eyewitness, several people have been trapped on their farms while many villagers were seen in lories trying to escape the ” war zone”.
He said where the people will settle will be another problem because there is no IDP camp in the area.
The affected communities is 5 kilometres from Sarkin-Pawa, the local government where security men are stationed but the eyewitness said there has been no action from the security agents.
He said that the local vigilante who tried to repel the bandits were overwhelmed by the number of the bandits and their superior firepower “so they have to retreat”.
When contacted, the Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Matane confirmed the story saying: ” it is just happening so I cannot give you any details”.
Matane however said government and the security agencies will take actions that will lead to the bandits being sacked from the areas already overtaken before saying that the armed men could have infiltrated the area from Kaduna and Zamfara states the states Niger state shares boundaries with in the axis.
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