About 3000 persons were said to have been displaced as bandits killed six persons, abducted five persons with over 20 others sustaining various degrees of injury in another attack in 12 villages in Paikoro local government of Niger state.
Daily Trust learnt that the bandits began the attack on the villages at the weekend and carried out their brutal operation till Sunday afternoon.
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A resident of one of the villages attacked, Abubakar Azaido said in a telephone interview that over over 20 injured persons have been rushed to general hospital in Kaffin Koro.
He said, “The bandits were many, they were over 200 and they invaded the villages in motorcycles. They carted away all the spare parts in the shop of a motorcycle spare-parts dealer in Amale village”.
He said that while four persons were killed in Gwajau village, two others were murdered in Amale village, adding that four persons have been kidnapped in Dakolo and one pastor in Nani villages.
He listed the communities attacked by the bandits to include Amale, Beni, Barakwai, Kakuri, Gudani, Abolo, Nani, Gwajau, Kubi, Zakolo, Kado and Dakolo.
According to him, “The attack began Saturday night and as at this Sunday afternoon our people have deserted the villages. On the estimate, over 3000 people have been displaced. There has been panic as people are shouting they are coming; you see them running in all directions. As I speak to you now I am in the General hospital in Kaffin Koro where we have rushed over 20 persons who were injured”.
It was gathered that over 200 cows have been rustled by the bandits heading towards the border villages of Niger and Kaduna states.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Niger state police command, ASP Abiodun Wasiu could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report.