Bandits have once again attacked a small village in Niger State, killing 42 people, including children, and abducting scores more.
The event occurred in the state’s Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas, less than a month after nearly 300 students and staff from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, were abducted in the same areas.
This came as President Bola Tinubu directed the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to locate and apprehend the perpetrators of the attack and to ensure they are quickly brought to justice.
Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has also expressed regret over the terrorist incident, calling it evil.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the incident, characterizing the killings and abductions as a serious breach of the state’s fundamental responsibility to protect its citizens.
According to news reports, the bandits have been on the rampage in some settlements in the same area for several days, wreaking horror on innocent residents without being challenged.
A reliable source in the area told Newsmen that the marauding terrorists massacred 37 people in Kasuwa Daji near Papiri, while another five were killed in Kaima village.
“In addition to those dead, a large number of others were abducted.
“In fact, some of the people kidnapped were kids and students from the same St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri in Agwarra, who were kidnapped recently but then released a few weeks ago.
“On Saturday, the suspected bandits came and wreaked havoc in the villages and later burnt down a popular market in the area before abducting an unspecified number of people including children,” the source disclosed.
Rev. Father Stephen Kabirat, Director of Communications for the Catholic Church of Kontagora Diocese, confirmed that 40 people were killed in addition to those held captive.
“Infact, our Parish Priest narrowly escaped abduction when the terrorists visited our Mission House three days ago. They succeeded in destroying some religious items in the church, carting away two motorbikes and cash.
“They were looking for the Priest but luckily he escaped but they abducted some villagers, including children,” he added.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident through its spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, and stated around 30 individuals were slain in the attack.
“Around 9 p.m. on Saturday, the command received reports that suspected bandits had attacked and killed over 30 people and abducted an unconfirmed number of others.
“About 4:30p.m., on Saturday, suspected bandits from the National Park Forest along Kabe District invaded Kasuwan Daji located at Demo Village via Kabe, killed over 30 persons, burnt the market and looted shops and carted away food item,” according to police.
He did, however, say that a combined security team had visited the location and that efforts were underway to rescue the victims.
