Villagers flee homes as bandits attack Niger communities

Villagers in Sarkin Pawa Ward in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State are vacating their homes following attacks by bandits in which no fewer than 30 persons were reportedly killed.

Daily Trust also learnt that seven women were kidnapped by bandits in Sabon Kachiwe and still in captivity, four days after the attack.

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A local government official from the affected community, who spoke in confidence, told our correspondent that the attackers also set the entire villages ablaze after slaughtering and shooting both men and women on sight.

“The security operatives came and evacuated the dead bodies and they were prepared and given mass burial,” a source said.

Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, had earlier confirmed the attack on the three villages.

According to the SSG, 13 persons were killed in Kachiwe, 9 in Shape and 6 in another village, all in Sarkin Pawa Ward of Munya LGA.

But a source from the community said 10 persons were set ablaze in their rooms while four were slaughtered in Sabon Kachiwe village alone.

The source said the attackers also destroyed the telecommunication masts belonging to MTN and GLO during the attacks.

Another local, who spoke in confidence, told our correspondent that whereabouts of the abducted women were yet unknown.