Bandits invade Niger community, kill 5, rustle cattles

No fewer than five villagers have been killed by gunmen who raided Paikpa village near Sarkinpawa in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.

According to reports, other villagers got injured during the attack, while a large number of cattles were rustled.

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Confirming the incident, Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane said rescue mission have been deployed to the scene and are yet to ascertain the number of casualties.

Matane said the gunmen entered Paikpa late on Monday and abducted some people and rustled a lot of cattle.

“Men of the Civilian JTF and local vigilante engaged the bandits in battle which lasted hours making the gunmen to escape into the forest,” he said.

According to some villagers, the incident happened at about 10.30pm on Monday, when the gunmen stormed the community riding on motorcycles with each of them carrying AK47 rifles and other dangerous weapons.

The bandits were said to have accessed the village through Luwi community, thereby making the villagers to run in different directions, while they raided Njita and Chibani, where they kidnapped many people and rustled cattle before making their way to Paikpa village.

“The gunmen operated for several hours, invading several houses in the village without any response to distress calls by the security men stationed at Sarkinpawa,” one of the villagers said.

He further said after operating for hours, the bandits escaped into the Chikun forest in Kaduna State.

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