Crime

Bandits Kill 7, Kidnap 150 in Munya; 25 Gunmen Neutralized in Niger State

Published by Tope Fakinlede on May 27th, 2024.

Bandits Kill 7, Kidnap 150 in Munya; 25 Gunmen Neutralized in Niger State

Chairman of the Munya local government council in Niger State, Malam Aminu Najume, has urgently called for intervention to rescue his community from ongoing terrorist attacks.

Over the weekend, Najume confirmed the invasion of Kuchi communities on Friday night, where seven people were killed and 150 others abducted. Among the deceased were four security personnel, a vigilante, and other villagers.

Najume praised the security forces for their bravery, noting that they managed to neutralize over 25 of the terrorists during the gunfight. He reported that the assailants, approximately 300 in number, invaded the community around 7:00 PM. They moved from house to house, robbing residents of their belongings and abducting around 150 villagers, including women, in the midst of a rainstorm. The council is currently overwhelmed by the situation, and Najume expressed his distress over the plight of his people, who have been displaced and are living in fear.

Najume attributed the relentless attacks on his community to the failure of the Kaduna state government to clear out the terrorists from the forests bordering the area. He stated, “These attackers come from Kaduna State, operate in Niger State, and then return. They move in large numbers, yet security agents fail to detect them. Even when villagers alert the authorities, no action is taken.”

Describing the Friday night attack, Najume said the bandits operated for over three hours without any reinforcement arriving. They outnumbered the Joint Security Taskforce, resulting in the deaths of four security personnel and several villagers. Many residents remain unaccounted for, hiding in the bush overnight.

Najume detailed the terror as the gunmen went from house to house, selectively kidnapping villagers, including women, and looting all the shops in the community. The attackers arrived on approximately 100 motorcycles, each carrying at least three heavily armed individuals.