Residents flee as bandits attack Niger communities
Bandits’ attacks on Monday morning forced residents of Ya-Bawa, Maburya, Ragada, Kura’a, and Kumbashi in Mariga LGA of Niger State to flee their homes in search of safety.
Bandits also reportedly invaded Rijau, the headquarters of Rijau LGA around 2pm, on Monday, and kidnapped an unspecified number of residents.
A resident of Rijau, who simply gave his name as Bilya, said many people were kidnapped even as they were trying to flee.
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“It is a sad situation for us in Rijau today. Bandits invaded our town unaware and they have taken many people”, he said.
Another resident, who didn’t want his name mentioned, said they were yet to establish the number of people that were abducted.
Another resident of the area, Ibrahim Ayuba, told our correspondent that bandits arrived at Mariga in the early hours on Monday forcing them to flee.
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He said the bandits later diverted to Makuku after crossing the river Maroro in Kebbi State.
He said residents of Ragada, Kura’a and other communities are currently taking refuge in Gulbin Boka.
“The bandit numbering over 200 on motorcycles. We watched them from mountains and immediately we saw them entering our villages, we fled and they entered our communities. We are yet to get any intervention from security Operatives “, he said.
As at 10am on Monday, residents said bandits were still at Gulbin -Makuku after the residents had fled.
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Women and children were conveyed through canoes across River Maroro to Gulbin-Boka where they are currently taking refuge.
As at 2pm on Monday, the fleeing farmers said they were yet to feed because they couldn’t take food stuffs along.
When contacted, the Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brigadier General Bello Abdullahi (RTD), confirmed the attacks.
He said actions were being taken to dislodge the bandits from the communities under their siege.
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