Judul : Residents Flee As Bandits Attack Niger Communities, Kill 6, Abduct Over 20
link : Residents Flee As Bandits Attack Niger Communities, Kill 6, Abduct Over 20
Residents Flee As Bandits Attack Niger Communities, Kill 6, Abduct Over 20
Six farmers were killed and several others sustained serious bullet wounds in a fresh attack by bandits in Rijau, the headquarters of Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State.
The attack occurred around 2pm on Monday and lasted for over two hours. It came just hours after the bandits had struck multiple communities in Mariga LGA earlier in the day.
Residents told Daily Trust that the assailants moved from house to house, seizing phones and valuables before gathering hundreds of cattle and fleeing. Some residents were forced to hide on the ceilings to escape.
Sources disclosed that the rustled cattle belonged to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who had earlier fled their villages and were taking refuge in Rijau town. One resident, who asked not to be named, said no fewer than 20 people, including women, were abducted and taken away on motorcycles.
He added that several shops were burgled, with food items, cash, and other valuables looted. Some shop owners were also among those kidnapped.
'In Rijau, they ransacked everywhere. Six people were killed and several others, including women, were kidnapped. Shops were looted, and food items were taken. Shop owners were also among those abducted. Some people sustained injuries.
'As I speak to you, the bandits rustled hundreds of cows belonging to residents. Over 20 people, including women, were kidnapped,' he said.
Another resident of Rijau, who gave his name as Bilya, confirmed that many people were abducted as they tried to flee.
'It's a sad situation for us in Rijau today. The bandits invaded our town unexpectedly and took many people away,' he said.
A third resident, who also chose to remain anonymous, said the exact number of kidnapped persons could not yet be determined, as many people had fled into the bush.
He noted that until normalcy returned, it would be difficult to ascertain the full scale of the abductions.
Hundreds flee 5 villages in Mariga LGA
Similarly, Daily Trust gathered that hundreds of residents from Ya-Bawa, Maburya, Ragada, Kura'a, and Kumbashi communities in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State fled their homes on Monday morning following fresh bandit attacks.
A resident, Ibrahim Ayuba, told our correspondent that the bandits stormed Mariga communities in the early hours of the day, forcing residents to flee.
He said the attackers later crossed the River Maroro into Kebbi State and diverted toward Makuku.
According to him, residents of Ragada, Kura'a, and surrounding villages are currently taking refuge in Gulbin Boka.
'The bandits, numbering over 200 and riding on motorcycles, were spotted from the mountains. As soon as we saw them entering our villages, we fled. They invaded the communities immediately. Up until now, we have yet to see any security intervention,' he said.
As of 10 am on Monday, residents reported that the bandits were still stationed in Gulbin-Makuku after locals had deserted the area.
In several videos shared with Daily Trust by fleeing residents, women and children were seen being ferried across the River Maroro in wooden canoes to Gulbin-Boka, where they are currently seeking refuge.
Some children, reportedly under the age of two, fled without clothing, as parents said they had no time to gather their belongings.
By 2pm on Monday, many of the displaced farmers said they had not eaten, having left their homes without food supplies.
When contacted, the Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brigadier General Bello Abdullahi (rtd), confirmed the attacks.
He assured that efforts were underway to dislodge the bandits from the affected communities.
Also, police spokesperson in Niger State, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident and said tactical teams had been deployed for engagement.
'We are monitoring the incident, tactical teams were alerted and deployed for engagement,' he told Daily Trust.
Mariga, Rijau LGAs under attacks for past 3 weeks - Residents
Residents of Mariga and Rijau local government areas of Niger State have lamented that both LGAs have been under constant siege by bandits for the past three weeks.
A retired security officer in Rijau told Daily Trust that the bandits had been operating without restraint, wreaking havoc across several villages, violating residents' dignity, and displacing countless people from their homes.
'One of the most brazen attacks was the invasion of Rijau town-the LGA headquarters-where the bandits confidently stole cattle belonging to villagers who had already been displaced and were taking refuge in the town. They also killed some residents, injured others, and kidnapped several more,' he said.
He added that the bandits blocked escape routes around Lioji, intercepting anyone trying to flee with their livestock toward Kontagora.
'We are caught between a rock and a hard place. May Allah, who knows our true condition, bring us relief from this crisis,' he prayed.
Another resident, Ibrahim Ayuba, also lamented the worsening security situation.
'For the past one month, the security situation in Rijau and Mariga has deteriorated. It's pathetic. We have experienced countless attacks. Farming is no longer possible, as our villages and farmlands have been under the control of bandits for the past three weeks,' he said.
'This rainy season, we haven't been able to plant anything. We wake up every day to news of bandit movements. From Bangi-the headquarters of Mariga LGA-to communities like Mangoro, Wamba and Beri, there have been constant attacks.
'There was a brief lull in areas like Kakihum, Ragada, Gulbin-Boka, and Kumbashi, but today the attacks resumed. Even the IDP camps that hosted displaced villagers were attacked today,' he added.
Daily Trust learned that security operatives were initially stationed in Rijau, Warari and Gulbin-Boka. However, following a recent attack that claimed the lives of 17 soldiers, the personnel in Rijau and Warari were redeployed to reinforce those in Gulbin-Boka, leaving Rijau exposed to further attacks.
One resident, however, disclosed that they had received assurances that the security operatives would soon be redeployed to Rijau.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).Demikianlah Artikel Residents Flee As Bandits Attack Niger Communities, Kill 6, Abduct Over 20
Anda sekarang membaca artikel Residents Flee As Bandits Attack Niger Communities, Kill 6, Abduct Over 20 dengan alamat link https://www.punyakamu.com/2025/07/residents-flee-as-bandits-attack-niger.html
0 Response to "Residents Flee As Bandits Attack Niger Communities, Kill 6, Abduct Over 20"
Post a Comment