Niger IDPs return home, fear fresh attacks

The Internally Displaced Persons from Munya and Shiroro Local Government Areas of Niger State have started returning home amid fear.

 Daily Trust gathered that while peace and normalcy have returned and displaced farmers returning to engage in farming activities, residents are still in fear due to the absence of security operatives.

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 They based this on their past experiences where bandits returned with severe torture after they started returning home as the government assured them of adequate security.

 A resident, Idris Adamu, told our correspondent that “Some of us have returned home to start working on our farms because we cannot survive without farming. But those mostly returning are men; some people have left their wives in Minna because it would be easier to run alone when they strike.

 “It’s not that they (bandits) no longer pass through our communities. Four days ago, one of our brothers was kidnapped on his farm when the bandits were passing through the Kuchi community. They collected his motorcycle and his mobile phone. He was released a day after but they didn’t give back his motorcycle and phone.” 

 Adamu, a motorcycle mechanic, said it wasn’t easy for villagers to survive in towns and cities due to the cost of living.

 “I have a wife and two kids while my brother’s wife whose husband was killed by bandits was equally staying with me. So the responsibility was high. We had no choice than to return home,” he said.

Adamu said they returned home to meet some of their rooms burgled and belongings stolen.

“We sleep in the night with our eyes opened because of a possible invasion. Notwithstanding, we need to go back to farm to survive,” he added.

 Another resident, Shehu Abubakar, said attacks had reduced until Friday when the bandits struck in Kuchi where they rustled cattle belonging to some Fulani.