Bandits kill 3, re-abduct Niger village head

By Correspondent in Minna

The new wave of crime ravaging Niger state has taken a more dangerous dimension with as armed men, numbering over 50, attacking Madaka village in Rafi Local Government Area and killing three persons including the leader of a vigilante group, Mallam Isyaku Alhassan.

The bandits, The Reporters learnt, also kidnapped the village head of Madaka community for the second time within three months during an attack that lasted for close to three hours.

The attacks according to sources took place between 11 a m and 2 p.m on Sunday.

Other victims of the attacks which include the son of the leader of the vigilante, Abdulhamid Isyaku and another victim whose name could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report also lost their lives.

The online platform recalls that the village head was abducted when the bandits attacked the area, three months ago, and was in their custody for the said period before he was recently release.

Rafi Local government area has been under siege by bandits including the following communities; Rafi-Doko, Yakila, Katako and other neighbouring villages in which many persons were kidnapped, injured and food items and property estimated at millions of naira destroyed.

The Chief of Staff to Rafi LGA Chairman, Mohammed Mohammed, who confirmed the developments to our Correspondent said three persons were killed and the village head re-abducted in the most recent attack.

Mohammed said the bandits said that members of the community had to scamper for safety, out of fear for their lives while the operation lasted.

He further explained that the corpses of those massacred were yet to be retrieved from the scene of the attacks, due to overwhelming challenges.

All efforts to get reaction from the police command in the state failed as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State police command, ASP Wasiu Abiodun, did not pick our calls or reply to text messages sent to him on the subject matter.