Gunmen believed to be bandits have abducted no fewer than 200 travellers and killed 7 villagers of Kuchi community in Munya local government area of Niger State .
Among those killed were four members of the Joint Security Taskforce stationed in the area, while three villagers who attempted to escape to the bush were gun down.
The Bandits who were estimated to be about 300, invaded the community at about 7:00pm and operated under the heavy downpour for over three hours without resistance.
“They were reported to have moved from house to house selecting those they wanted to go away with, including women.
They looted all the shops in the community and went away with the goods and drinks.
“They over powered the security agents who could not withstand the bandits who were heavily armed and came on about 100 motorcycles with each conveying at least three persons.
“Again there was no reinforcement for the security agents on ground untill this morning (Saturday) when some security personnel came, but the havoc had already been done. They operated all through inside the rain”, our source added.
This latest attack is coming barely two weeks after some gunmen ambushed and abducted 30 locals from two commercial vehicles along Mangoro village, about 15 kilometers from Sarkin Pawa, the headquarters of the local.
The abducted passengers were said to be returning from a local market and were heading to Kaduna state when the incident occured. They are yet to regain their freedom.
When contacted, the Chairman of Munya local government, Mallam Aminu Najume confirmed the latest attack when four security agents including local vigilantes were killed by the Bandits.
The chairman disclosed that the Gunmen invaded the community at about 7:00pm in groups, numbering about 300., adding that “they move from house to house dispossessing people of their belongings.
“They also abducted about 150 villagers, including women and went away with them inside the rain. Throughout the operation by the Bandits, no assistance came from anywhere.
“Honestly the Council is overwhelmed with the current situation. I am not thinking straight as I speak with you because my people have lost their sleep, they have been forced out of the community”.
He blamed the continuous onslaught by the Bandits on communities in his local government on what he called the failure of the Kaduna state government to take concrete actions on them, stressing that “if Kaduna state is doing what Niger State is doing, the situation would have been addressed.
“These people usually come from Kaduna state to operate in Niger state and return. They move in their hundreds and yet the security agents don’t see them, even when the villagers alert them, no action is taken.
“Look at yesterday’s attack, for over three hours, there was no reinforcement from anywhere. They out numbered the Joint Security Taskforce and succeeded in killing four of them, including some villagers. We can not ascertain the number of people that were injured because some are still in the bush, they slept there”,
