February 08, (THEWILL) – At least 44 persons have been reported killed by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram in a renewed attacks on parts of Shiroro and Munya Local Government Areas of Niger state.
Local residents said the terrorists killed 27 persons and abducted 31 victims, mostly women and children in Galadinma Kolgo, Erena, Chukuba, and Allawa in Shiroro LGA on Saturday.
In Guni, Zagzaga and Dazza communities in Munya, 17 people, including a blind man were killed. They also abducted three women, scores of children and afterwards, set their homes and farmlands on fire, the sources added.
The president, Lakpma Youths Association, Jibril Allawa, said the gunmen kidnapped 28 persons in Gyramiya community in Allawa and are presently asking for N60m ransom before the victims can be set free.
He said, “They carried away 28 people made up of three men and 25 women. Now, most of the affected communities in the two local government areas are now ghost towns as the villagers are currently taking refuge at the Internally Displaced Persons camp (IDPs) in Central Primary School, Gwada.”
Also confirming the attacks, the Co-Convener Concerned Shiroro Youths, Abubakar Sani Bello Kokki, stated that the terrorists invaded the communities in a large number on motorcycles with each carrying two or three passengers and operated for several hours.
Kokki condemned in strong terms the deliberate refusal of the government to bring an end to the increasing activities of gunmen in the areas, saying, “It is so painful the way and manner the villagers have been displaced from their homes and are now taking refuge in IDPs camps.
“The villagers can no longer harvest their farm produce, because the gunmen have warned them to stay away from their farms,” Kokki added.
The State Police Command has not issued any statement on the incident.
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