By Stephen Ojo
Minna
Fresh report from Minna, the Niger State says two communities in Rafi Local Government have been overran two communities leaving on their trail tales of anguish and pain as scores of people were reported killed.
According to the report the Village Head of Madaka Alhaji Saleh Ahmad Kakuri and Commander Iko who was the Deputy Commander of the Vigilante Group in the area under the Madaka District of Rafi Local Goverment area of Niger state have been killed by bandits.
The ravaging bandits the report added, also invaded Majanjan District still of the Rafi Local Government Area on Thursday, March 21, afternoon during which Alhaji Salihu Immahuri, the Maiangwan ( Village Head) of Anguwan Bala and his two wives were seized and killed.
Mallam Adamu Immahuri, apparently a brother to the deceased ruler, his 4 wives, Shehu Salihu and Jamilu Isah are among the 30 bodies recovered so far from the communities after the invasion of the bandits.
A traditional ruler from the area who spoke on condition of anonymity told Krestnews reporter that, “over 30 bodies have been recovered by the villagers. The bandits attacked the communities at about 3.30pm on Thursday and operated for hours without response from security agencies. The bandits operate for as long as they want without challenge from the Army or Police “.
However, the District Head of Madaka, Alhaji Isah Bawale on Friday confirmed the incident in telephone interview with journalists.
He said that the attack occurred around 3pm on Thursday when the communities market was in full session resulting in huge casualties.
It was gathered that over 50 houses including commercial shops, a number of cars and motorcycles were burnt down during the attack.
A witness account said, ” the suspected armed men broke into the village shooting sporadically, killing their victims and burnt down the market. They also abducted yet specified numbers of the villagers to an unknown destination.
Some residents who spokebon the calamity said that there was a similar attack by bandits on same communities few years ago, adding that, “since that attack when the district head was killed there has not been security presence in that communities leading to bandits attack without challenges from any quarters”.
Meanwhile, neither the Niger State Police Command nor the State Government are yet to react to the report of attack as the Niger state government through the commissioner for security, General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed (retired) is yet to speak on the incident
