Bandits abduct newlywed brides in Niger

Bandits abducted newly wedded brides in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State at the weekend.

Daily Trust gathered that the gunmen, who first raided about 10 communities in the LGA, returned on Sunday morning.

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By the time they returned, many had reportedly fled their homes as a result of the previous day’s attack.

The gunmen were said to have abducted some of the persons they found in the community, including the newlyweds at Egbako village.

Yakubu Mohammed, a brother to the abducted brides, confirmed that the victims were taken away during the operation.

Daily Trust also gathered that bandits also attacked a funeral at Tsogi. A resident, Danjuma Dabban, told our correspondent that the congregation had to abandon the corpse.

Daily Trust gathered that gunmen invaded the communities on about 40 motorcycles, with each conveying three AK 47.

According to residents, the attackers who attempted to run with the rustled cattle towards Akare community in wushishi Local government got stock due to the collapse of a bridge.

The gunmen, however, became frustrated as the animals refused to cross through the river to Akere axis, they decided to retreat to Sheshi Yissa community to take a new route out of the community.

Vigilante in the process confronted the bandits but could not withstand their firepower.

The Niger State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, Community Development and Internal Security, Emmanuel Umar, confirmed the attacks.

He said bandits stormed Lavun after attacking communities in Wushishi and Mashegu Local Government Areas.