Bandits Abduct Scores, Burn 30 Houses In Niger

Bandits have renewed attacks on villages in Shiroro local government area of Niger State and burnt over 30 houses.

They also abducted scores of villagers and rustled an undisclosed number of cattle in Allawa community.

LEADERSHIP findings revealed that the bandits came into the area through a border route between the state and Kaduna State.

It was learnt that the bandits who were apparently looking for foodstuffs burnt down any house they could not find foodstuffs and cow to rustle as they shot sporadically between 8 pm to 9 pm on Sunday.

The chairman of Allawa Youth Connect, Yusuf Musa confirmed that the attackers invaded the community at about 8pm on Sunday.

He said they were yet to establish the number of people kidnapped but said about 100 cattle, 35  motorcycles and 150 bags of grains belonging to residents were carried away and 30 houses were burnt down during the attack.

Another villager Farouk Adamu said the bandits have permanent camp in the forest of Allawa located in the boundary between Niger and Kaduna states.

A resident of the area who prefer anonymity said the attacks on the community has become a constant one of recent as last Friday morning the bandits attacked and came back by 9 pm to kill one and abduct 12 people despite the effort of troops to repel them.

Consequently, many of the residents of the area have relocated to safe areas in Pandogari, Rafi local government area, Kuta and Gwada in Shiroro local government area of the state.