January 16, (THEWILL) – Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed three people and abducted at least 28 others in Farin-Shinge, Kulho, Jigawa and Dogo Fadama communities of Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State
The attacks were carried out from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning in the communities.
The Vice-Chairman of Kontagora Local Government Area, Aliyu Makiga, who confirmed the attack on the Farin Shinge community, said that the gunmen came to Tegina in large numbers to carry out the attack.
“They kidnapped a lot of people, some have been released while others are still with them”, he said.
Makiga revealed that the gunmen have demanded for seven 50 litres jerry cans of petrol, packs of Viju Milk and other drinks as ransom for the abductees from the Farin-Shinge community.
“They are demanding for a ransom of seven 50 litres jerry cans of petrol, Viju Milk and other drinks”, he said.
Another group of gunmen were said to have attacked Jigawa, Dogo Fadama and surrounding communities, killing two people, while four others were abducted.
According to Umar Mohammed, a resident of Jigawa community, the gunmen conducted a house-to-house search, rustling cattle and abducting people.
Mohammed said that though the attack took the community unaware, the majority of the residents of the community were able to escape when the gunmen arrived.
In the Kulho community, the gunmen began the attack at around 3.30pm and ended the operation at about 6pm.
A resident named Tanko Kulho was shot dead and 16 people were abducted while shops were looted and over 18 motorcycles stolen by the gunmen.
A resident in Kulho, Abdulrahman Adamu who confirmed the attack said that six of his family members including his three older brothers were among those who were abducted.
“We were all seated at the market square when we saw many motorcycles carrying at least three people on each and they were well armed with AK-47 rifles. The operation started around 3.48pm and they left Kulho at around 6.07pm.
“Many people were abducted. Six of my family members were abducted, they include my older brothers Yakubu Kulho, Gambo Kulho, Haruna Nda kulho; my younger brother, Baba Nda Karami; my nephew, Mohammed Gaddafi, and my older brother’s wife, Salaha Haruna Kulho. Six of them in my family were taken”, he said.
The State Police Command has not issued any statement on the development.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday ordered full military operation against bandits and other terrorists in any part of Niger State.
The directive was contained in a statement issued by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.
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