Residents flee as insurgents abduct dozens in Niger communities

Residents in Zazzaga and neighbouring communities in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State in the early hours on Saturday fled their homes as suspected members of Boko Haram renewed their attacks on the villagers, abducting dozens.

This came a few days after no fewer than 30 persons were kidnapped in Zazzaga.

A resident, who pleaded anonymity, said “The insurgents operated freely here. As it stands now, nobody wants to stay any more. In Zazzaga, residents have left; there is nobody in the community now. Even today (Saturday) some people were kidnapped in Zazzaga again. Those who were able to escape the attack have packed out of their villages.”

“In Kachiwe we cannot give the exact number because many people were kidnapped. But they were confronted by the vigilantes in the area and through that confrontation some people were able to escape. And they have packed their belongings, leaving their villages”

Another resident said the affected communities had become deserted.

 “Truly, people don’t have any specific place to go. The affected communities are deserted right now. People are just going to anywhere they feel safer for them to take refuge.”

Another source said dozens were kidnapped in Kachiwe Community between Friday and Saturday, including girls.

He said, “Even Sarkin Pawa, the Headquarters of Munya Local Government is also vulnerable now because the insurgents are taking control of more communities. A lot is happening in our community that is unreported. The way these people operate now is different from what is happening before.”

The police authorities in the state could not be reached for official comments on the incident.

But a security official familiar with the development told our correspondent that “many people have been kidnapped in the last three days in communities in Munya. We don’t even know the number of people that are in captivity right now. The situation is becoming more worrisome and scarier.”