Father, son shot dead as bandits abduct many in fresh Niger attacks

Suspected bandits have killed at least 17 people, including a father and son after raiding villages in Mashegu, Lavun and Wushishi Local Government Areas of Niger State.

The attacks which occurred between 12pm and 8pm on Saturday saw many fled their homes.

According to Daily Trust, the villages attacked in Mashegu Local Government were Sahon-Rami, Igbede, Chekaku, Ubegi, Maishankafi and Poshi.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Mashegu Local Government Chairman, Mohammed A. Isah, said the Chief of Staff to Mashegu Local Government Chairman, Umar Ubegi, and his father were killed during the attack.

Also killed was the Village Head of Poshi, and seven others in Sahon-Rami and Maishankafi.

“They moved from one village to the other on motorcycles, killing and kidnapping people. They also rustled cows belonging to villagers. About 13 communities were sacked and people have fled. Tension is high in our local government now. These people have been operating since Friday. But only one village was attacked on Friday which was Sahon-Rami. The remaining villages were attacked today (Saturday),” he said.

In Lavun Local Government Area, ten villages were reportedly attacked, leaving no fewer than three persons dead while 3 others were kidnapped.

The villages attacked in Lavun Local Government were Egbako, Dabban, Kupa, Ndaruka, Tsogi, Mawogi, Yemi, Managi, Kanko and Gogaga.

A resident of Egbako, one of the communities attacked, Yakubu Mohammed said “they started the operation around 12pm, moving from one village to another. For now, we have only discovered the dead bodies of three persons. They also went away with three others.”

The affected communities are 36 kilometers away from Bida, and less than 30 kilometers from the palace of Etsu Nupe.

The attacks was said to have disrupted the Batati weekly market, along Mokwa-Bida Road, as traders abandoned their goods and fled for their lives, Daily Trust reports.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, is yet to comment on the attacks as at the time of filling his report