Three persons were reportedly killed on Sunday when terrorists opened fire on a vehicle on Sarkin-Pawa Road in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State where they operated for several hours unchallenged.
A local said the terrorists were angered when the driver, said to be on top speed heading to the Sakin-Pawa axis, lost control and rammed the vehicle into two of the terrorists operating in the middle of the highway and killed them on the spot.
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A woman and two men in the vehicle were killed in revenge by the gunmen who later took over communities between Mutun-Daya and Gunu; a distance of about 20 kilometres from Minna, the state capital.
Residents fled to Minna, the Niger State Capital as the terrorists took over the communities between Mutun-Daya and Gunu.
A resident, Shehu Abubakar, told our correspondent that the attackers operated at Chibani, Kuchi, Injita and Gwada axes when the communities were still observing their early morning prayers.
He said, “They targeted some cattle at Mararaba Dandaudu axis because some farmers rear cattle there. They moved freely without being challenged on the tarred road between Gwada and Sarkin-Pawa,” adding that, “The situation is getting out of hand on a daily basis.”
The terrorists were said to have later moved to communities between Mutun-Daya and Gunu which is a 10-minute drive from Minna, the state capital.
Commenting on the incident, another resident said, “No place is safe for us again. Mutun-Daya community is where many of our women ran to due to previous attacks. Mutun-Daya to Minna will take you 10 minutes at least and is presently under attack by the terrorists.”
Travellers in Gunu, Mutum Daya, Gwada, Sarkin Pawa and adjoining villages were trapped on Sunday morning.
Mutun Daya is also the town connecting Kuta, the headquarters of Shiroro LGA, Gwada and Zumba, housing camps with hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Munya and Shiroro LGAs.
The police spokesman in the state, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack but said some of the terrorists were killed by the joint security operatives during a gun duel.
“On 15/05/2022 at about 0700hrs, information was received that suspected armed bandits were sighted at Zazagha and injita villages of Munya LGA. Joint security tactical teams were immediately drafted to the area, and discovered that the bandits had divided themselves into different groups, as some of the bandits had moved to Fuka and Daza villages of Munya LGA. ”The tactical teams advanced to these areas where the hoodlums were fiercely engaged in gun battle and repelled “The hoodlums later extended to Gwalo village, K/koro area of Paikoro LGA and the joint team responded swiftly, with recovery of cattle from the bandits. Reinforcements were sent to Mutun-Daya village via Gwada, Shiroro LGA upon the receipt of information that another group of bandits were sighted in the area. “The bandits were equally engaged in a gun duel and some of them were neutralized while others escaped into the forest with gunshot injuries,” he said.
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