Some members of the vigilante group in Maza- Kuka Community in Niger State have reportedly killed the District Head of a neighbouring Adogon Malam Community, Alhaji Saidu Abubakar, and his younger brother, Alhaji Salihu Abubakar.
The killing occurred a few hours after gunmen attacked a mosque in Maza-kuka, Mashegu Local Government Area of the state during early morning prayer (Subhi) and killed 18 worshippers and abducted 13 others.
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A source said the vigilantes stormed the Adogon Malam around 10am on Monday killing the two on the suspicion that they were collaborators in the early morning attack.
Adogon Malam is a neighbouring community to Maza Kuka.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, could not confirm whether it was a reprisal but said it was part of the Monday morning attack.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has appealed to the federal government to direct extension of the military onslaught against banditry to the state to checkmate the incessant attacks on communities in the state.
He stated this while reacting to Monday attack on worshippers in Mazakuka.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mary Noel-Berje, noted that bandits could only be eliminated completely, and in a short time, if the assault on them was carried out simultaneously.
The governor also stated that he was already in meetings with the heads of security agencies in the state to review their strategy on how to curtail the criminal activities of the bandits.