By Correspondent in Minna
Many villagers in Niger state have fled their homes as bandits continued attacks in some parts of Niger state, fuelled by the alleged killing of a cleric in one the villages touched by the ferocious attacks.
The villagers who lamented their fate while speaking with journalists said they were now at the mercy of the bandits who ransacked their homes and carting away food and materials belonging to the farmers in the villages.
Our Correspondent gathered that the renewed attacks which began last week, has claimed some lives and properties worth millions, adding the attackers always operate on motor bikes with sophisticated weapons.
A source from the affected villages told our correspondent that at least, two people lost their lives in the past four days in his village while 20 others were missing, adding that several others sustained various degrees of injuries as they made their way to nearby bushes for safety.
The online publication also gathered that some of the villagez affected include; Rafi-Doko, Yakila, Katako, Ogu, Teggina in Rafi and surrounding villages.
However, some of the affected Nigerlites had told journalists that they could no longer watch being slaughtered by the the bandits and renewed call on the Niger state government and the Federal government to help them out of their dangerous situation.
One of the villagers, simply identified as Shehu, said the attacks, if not checked on time could make the people loose confidence in government, adding that nobody seemed caring about what is happening to the villagers in the unabated attacks.
“The bandits now operate freely and take their time to ransack our homes and take away our foodstuffs.
“They attacked two villages on Sunday and a Pastor and the wife to the pastor’s friend were killed by the bandits,” he said.
The online publication, however, learnt that critical stakeholders on the need to ensure the restoration of peace in the state,met severally to evolve ways of ending bandits’ siege but their efforts failed to yield the desired results.
Sources said the bandits seemed to have informants who usually feed them about whatever strategies being made to end their siege.
The Director-General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Ibrahim Inga who also confirmed the attacks on the communities and the casualties, said that many of the villagers had been fleeing their homes for safety zones.
Efforts to get the police in the state to react to the development proved abortive.
