Gunmen kill three, abduct others in Niger
Three people were killed by unknown gunmen on Wednesday evening, and unspecified numbers of persons were abducted in the Maguzawa community of the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger state. A source informed DAILY POST that most of the people taken captive were children and women who explained that many residents have fled their homes to Kagara as well as Pandogari community within Niger State as well as Birinin Gwari Town situated in Kaduna State.
As per the report, Maguzawa is about 25km away from Kagara town, Niger State and 12km from Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State.
He said his explanation of the incident. Maguzawa occurred less than 48 hours following the time when bands of attackers killed five people and a number of others were kidnapped during a raid on the Gidigore community within the Rafi Local Government on the night of Tuesday.
As per the report, “In Maguzawa, three victims were slaughtered, and an unknown amount of people were kidnapped and others have fled. We’ve seen three corpses in the past and they were killed. We don’t have the exact number of victims they went away with .”
The source also explained that over the last three weeks, a number of communities in Rafi were under the attack of bandits.
He said that Ibrahim Ahmad, a resident’s brother, was among those who were abducted on Tuesday night. explaining that a lot of residents have fled their homes to Kagara or Pandogari to Niger State and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State.
The source said that within less than three weeks they’ve seen 10 attacks against different communities within the local government. He added that prior to the attack on Tuesday over the past two weeks, gunmen targeted Gulbi Unguwan-Jaye, Gulbi, and Kusherki communities where eight people were killed and another 36 abducted, while one was severely injured.
“As I speak to you, they have demanded N50 million for the first set of people they kidnapped,” the man explained.
He also explained that a number of houses and property belonging to farmers’ families were set on fire in the attack on Tuesday which lasted for several hours, without assistance from security officers.
He also stressed the need for aid to the homeless from the government, organizations and individuals, particularly clothing and food items for children to ease the burden of the natives who have lost everything they own.
According to the source, the Gidigore community where the latest attack was reported, is located just a few kilometres from Birnin Gwari town, Kaduna State in which the bandits have been responsible for several attacks that have resulted in the death of lives and the destruction of property.
DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who is the Public Relations Officer has confirmed that the incident occurred on Didigore but could not determine the exact date of the attack.
According to his account, during the assault, there were three victims who were killed and an undetermined amount of people were taken away, and two homes were set on fire.