Tuesday, 28 May 2024 04:47

Hundreds flee Niger state community as bandits kill 10, abduct 160

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Hundreds of people have fled their villages in a rural community in Niger State after weekend attacks by armed groups left 10 dead and at least 160 missing, a local government chairman and two residents said on Monday.

A year after President Bola Tinubu came to power promising to end widespread insecurity, kidnappings in the northwest by armed gangs demanding ransoms have become almost routine, with authorities seemingly powerless to stop them.

Gunmen on motorbikes first attacked Kuchi community in Niger state's Munya local government area on Friday evening, killing five residents and five hunters who tried to fight back, before kidnapping dozens of people, said local chairman Aminu Ajume.

The gunmen returned on Sunday night and seized livestock and food and burned shops, forcing at least 700 villagers to flee to nearby communities, Ajume added.

"As I am speaking to you, Munya is (a) no go area. They moved from house to house abducting people ... they abducted 160 villagers, including women," he told Reuters by phone.

Kidnapping gangs, known locally as bandits, and members from a faction of insurgent group Boko Haram joined forces to launch the attacks, Ajume said without providing evidence.

Boko Haram has been fighting an insurgency in the northeast since 2009 but Niger authorities have previously said its smaller faction had cells in the state and carried out some attacks.

The police and army spokespersons in Niger state did not respond to several requests for comment.

Maryam Abubakar, a resident, said she hid in the toilet when she heard sporadic gunfire around 1900 GMT on Friday and gunmen burst into her home shortly after.

"It was raining at that time. The bandits entered the house, searched the rooms and kitchen and they took my aunt and her two children," Abubakar said, adding the three were still missing.

Musa Auwal was in his shop when gunmen attacked on Friday but he hid in a nearby bush, he said. When he returned the next day, his shop had been looted, so he fled to stay with relatives 60 km away.

 

Reuters

February 05, 2025

2 job interview red flags, according to an ex-Microsoft HR executive

Gili Malinsky During her 15 years at Microsoft, "I was looking at thousands of resumes…
February 01, 2025

Tinubu targeting opposition, not corruption — Atiku

Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticized the…
February 02, 2025

Moving away from BMI, experts propose a new definition for obesity

A group of global experts is proposing a new way to define and diagnose obesity,…
February 01, 2025

Humans to compete against humanoid robots at half-marathon

China’s capital city of Beijing is all set to host an interesting half-marathon that will…
February 03, 2025

Gunmen kill 10 in attack on Ebonyi community – Police

The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the killing of 10 people in an attack…
February 05, 2025

What to know after Day 1077 of Russia-Ukraine war

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE Zelensky says he’s ready for talks with Putin Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has…
February 03, 2025

OpenAI introduces new AI tool to assist in research tasks

Leading generative artificial intelligence company OpenAI unveiled a new AI tool on Sunday named "Deep…
January 08, 2025

NFF appoints new Super Eagles head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Prof Wale Are Olaitan: Editorial Consultant; Femi Kawonise: Head, Production & Administration; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.