By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Not less than 12 persons, mostly males, were reportedly abducted by gunmen in Madalla, a major town in Niger, near Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, on Thursday.
According to reports on Friday by police official, the gunmen stormed Kwankashe, an area located along Suleja expressway on Thursday morning.
A resident who pleaded anonymity for security reasons, said that about 12 persons have been confirmed missing while one killed on the spot before they abducted his wife.
“I can confirm to you that one person was killed by the gunmen, they cut his throat before taking away his wife,” the source revealed.
Another resident who simply identified himself as Kay, said the gunmen who attacked the community were not less than 30 in number and were dressed in military uniforms.
“I didn’t see them during the operation but people who saw them said they were dressed in military uniform,” Mr Kay said.
Another source, who lived in the area for many years, said the incident was the first in recent time.
However, there has not been any demand made for ransom from the kidnappers at the time this report was filed.
Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Wasiu, confirmed the incident but added that he could not ascertain the number of persons abducted in the area.
“Yes, there was an incident of such around that Kwankashe area in Madalla, where some victims were taken away,” Mr Wasiu said, 24 hours after the incident.
According to the State’s Police PRO, the force is making frantic efforts to ensure the return of the victims and arrest of the gunmen.
When asked to confirm if the police were aware of the killed victim, Mr Wasiu said the details were still ‘sketchy.’
“Against some purported rumour that the incident happened in a school, it is not in a school. Some houses were attacked around that area and few people were taken away.
“The total number of the victims is still sketchy but what is clear is that few people were taken away. Details on whether some have been killed are still sketchy. I cannot tell you categorically that someone was killed,” the police PRO said.