Gunmen kidnap 3, kill 1 in Niger community

Gunmen early hours of Tuesday attacked Gidan Banobi community in Zazzaga district, Munya local government area of Niger State, kidnapped three persons and killed one other, fleeing villagers said. Our correspondent learnt that 54-year-old Musa Adamu was shot dead for daring to challenge the kidnappers after they had seized his son’s two wives during the […]

Gunmen early hours of Tuesday attacked Gidan Banobi community in Zazzaga district, Munya local government area of Niger State, kidnapped three persons and killed one other, fleeing villagers said.

Our correspondent learnt that 54-year-old Musa Adamu was shot dead for daring to challenge the kidnappers after they had seized his son’s two wives during the raid which took place about 2am.

The latest incidence is the third of such attacks on community within the district in a space of 72 hours.

The district head of Zazzaga, Musa Umoru told journalists on phone that the district had moblised to pay N10 million for the release of five out of the 10 villagers earlier kidnapped before the latest incidence at Gidan Banobi.

He said the kidnappers released 60 year old Amina Mohammed midway into the journey by the kidnappers who gave her their telephone numbers to give to the families of those kidnapped for possible negotiations.

"As I speak with now people are moving their properties away to neighboring villages because the government has refused to come to our aids.

"My people have sold everything they have to pay ransom, including our farm produce. We have made several complaints to the police but they have not do anything,” he lamented.

The district head expressed worry that Zazzaga community with about 50 villages and a population of over 2000 inhabitants has only one police out-post with only two policemen and appealed to appropriate authority to look into the situation.

"We have only two policemen posted to this community but they don’t have even a gun. They are just members of the community because they don’t have any weapon to confront the kidnappers,” he said.

The State Police Command Public Relation Officers ASP Peter Sunday confirmed the incidence but said the combined force of the Nigerian police and the Army has been drafted to restore normalcy to the district.