By Correspondent in Minna
Suspected bandits have continued their onslaught and incursion into parts of Niger state by launching attack on two local markets in Daja and Mangun villages, killing at least four persons and losing one of their own to the villagers.
The Reporters gathered that the bandits, said to be advancing from Niger-North senatorial district of the state,came on motorcycles armed with AK 47 rifles.
Our correspondent learnt that the criminal minded elements invaded the local market late Monday afternoon.
The online media platform further gathered that the gun men, said to be acting on a tip-off,stormed the village market and went straight to the resident of a local produce merchant, simply identified as Baira but unfortunately for them, they could not meet him.
Angered by missing their target, the bandits were said to have made their way into the busy market, as it was the local market day and started shooting indiscriminately to scare away traders before embarking on a looting spree.
While many of the traders scampered for safety, two people hit by the bullets died as a result of injuries they sustained from gun shots before help could come their way, a resident of the area told our correspondent on the condition of anonymity.
The bandits, said to be in a commando like manner, fled toward to Mangun village after their dastard act but waylaid by the vigilantes at Daja who got wind of the attack in their neighbourhood and quickly mobilized and in the confrontation, one of the bandits was killed.
Local vigilantes were said to haveconfronted the bandits as they made their way to through Daja but unfortunately,lost two of their fighters while the bandits lost one of member before disappearing into the nearby forest.
The Chairman of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko Inga, who confirmed the attack to journalists, said his agency was informed of the attack on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, efforts to confirm the attack from the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Police command in the state, ASP Abiodun Waisu, proved abortive.
As at the time of filing this report, several calls made to him failed to yield the desired result as the repeated calls were not responded to.
