Bandits kill 15, abduct 12 in Niger

Fifteen persons, including a police operative, have been reportedly killed and 12 others abducted in multiple attacks on some villages in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State on Monday.

Fifteen persons, including a police operative, have been reportedly killed and 12 others abducted in multiple attacks on some villages in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State on Monday.

In Beri town, it was gathered that five of the assailants were neutralised by the men of the local vigilante during the attack.

• Experts warn of anarchy as IPOB locks down South-East
• Abductors of Jangebe schoolgirls behind Tegina students’ kidnap

Twelve other people, it was learnt, were injured, while a different group of bandits kidnapped 12 other persons in another village in the same local council.

Locals told Daily Trust that the bandits also razed Beri police station.

In another attack, a different set of bandits stormed Garin-Gabas on Monday but faced stiff opposition from the youths of the town.

It could not be immediately ascertained the number of casualties on both sides.

Some bandits also raided Ungwan Bako in the Kotonkoro district in the same local council, abducting 12 people mostly women and children.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency NSEMA confirmed the incidents but did not give details.

The Police spokesperson in the state, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, did not respond to request for comments.

Meanwhile, four among the people kidnapped at Batatti in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State on Friday have been freed after paying N5.5 million ransom.

One of the victims, Kolade Olushola, told Daily Trust they were released at about 7.30 pm on Sunday.

It would be recalled that bandits numbering about ten attacked Batatti on Friday and looted his and other shops by the major road to Mokwa.

The victims said they could not identify the kidnappers as they were blindfolded until the day of their release despite spending three days in captivity with their kidnappers.