Bandits have reportedly killed six persons and abducted many villagers in Maguzawa and Garin Gidigore communities in Rafi local government, Niger State.
Three persons were reportedly slaughtered while an unspecified number of people were abducted on Wednesday night, June 15, in the Maguzawa community.
According to reports, women and children were among those kidnapped while many residents fled their homes to Kagara and Pandogari in Niger State and Birnin Gwari town in Kaduna State.
It was also gathered that bandits attacked Garin Gidigore on Tuesday night, killed some persons, and abducted others.
The Spokesperson, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the attack on Garin Gidigore community, said three persons were killed.
“During the attack, about three persons lost their lives and a yet-to-be ascertained a number of victims were abducted, while two houses were set ablaze,” the PPRO stated.
A source who pleaded for anonymity said the number of people kidnapped in Maguzawa attack cannot be ascertained.
“In Maguzawa, three persons were slaughtered an unspecified number of people have kidnapped and some people have fled. We have seen three corpses so far and they were slaughtered. We don’t know the number of people they went away with for now,” the source said.
Residents said that many communities in Rafi Local Government Area had been under the siege of bandits for the past three weeks.
A resident, Ibrahim Ahmad, said his brother was among those kidnapped victims on Tuesday night, adding that many people had fled their homes to Kagara and Pandogari in Niger State and Burning Gwari in Kaduna State.
“In less than three weeks, we have witnessed about 10 different attacks on various communities in Rafi Local Government. It’s almost every day. Before the Tuesday attack, last two weeks, bandits attacked Gulbi, Unguwan-Jaye, and Kusherki communities where 8 persons were killed and 36 others kidnapped while one person was seriously injured. As I speak to you, they have demanded N50 million for the first set of people they kidnapped,” he said.
Ahmad said several houses and properties were set ablaze during Tuesday’s attack that lasted several hours.
He called for humanitarian support from the government, organizations, and individuals especially food and children wear to cushion their hardship.