By Ummi Ismaeel, Minna
Armed bandits have again raided Avu community in Gupa-abugi ward, and Bassa community in Lapai and Shiroro local government areas of Niger State, respectively.
The gunmen attacked Avu community early Thursday morning, killed one person and kidnapped six others as they shot sporadically into the air to scare people.
Also in Bassa community, Shiroro Local Government Area, the armed bandits numbering close to 40 abducted over 50 people when they stormed the villages with their motorcycles in the early hours of Thursday.
Eyewitness said that the people were frightened by the heavy shooting by the armed bandits, forcing many lucky ones to rum into nearby bushes for safety.
Narrating their encounter, a member of the community, Idris Musa Avu, said, “The gunmen arrived the village around 1:00am, in large numbers and upon seeing them, people started scampering for safety as they were shooting sporadically. We saw one dead body and six of our people kidnapped.
“The vigilantes, upon seeing the situation, tried their best but could not get police back up as at the time of the attack; hence, were overpowered by the armed bandits, who are far more equipped with sophisticated weapons.”
Also the Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Comrade Sani Abubakar Kokki, who confirmed the attack in his community, described the gunmen as “terrorists”.
He said that the frequent armed attack on the villages was ‘‘very wicked’’.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State Command, ASP Wasiu Abiodun, could not confirm the attacks. He promised to get back to our correspondent but failed to do so as at the time of filing this report.