From John Adams, Minna
In what the villagers described as the biggest attacks in the last five years, armed bandits on Friday night defied the heavy downpour and invaded Kuchi community in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State and unleashed terror on the people, killing no fewer than seven people.
Among those killed were four members of the Joint Security Taskforce stationed in the area, three villagers who attempted to escape into the bush, while about 200 villagers were whisked away by the gunmen.
The bandits who our source in the community estimated numbered about 300, invaded the community at about 7:00pm and operated under the heavy downpour for over three hours without resistance.
“They went from house to house and selecting those they wanted to go away with, including women. They looted all the shops in the community and went away with all the goods and drinks.
“They over powered the security agents; there was no way they could have withstood the bandits because they (bandits) came in about 100 motorcycles, each carrying at least three people.
They were all heavily armed.
“Again there was no reinforcement for the security agents on ground until this morning (Saturday) when some security people came, but the havoc had already been done. They operated all through in the rain,” our source added.
This latest attack is coming barely two weeks after some gunmen ambushed and abducted 30 people from two commercial vehicles along Mangoro village, about 15 kilometers from Sarkin Pawa, the headquarters of the local government.
The abducted passengers were said to be returning from a local market and were heading to Kaduna State when the incident occurred. They are yet to regain their freedom.
When contacted, the Chairman of Munya local government, Mallam Aminu Najume, confirmed the latest attack.
The chairman disclosed that the gunmen invaded the community at about 7:00pm in groups, numbering about 300, adding that “they move from house to house dispossessing people of their belongings.
“They also abducted about 150 villagers, including women and went away with them inside the rain. Throughout the operation, no assistance came from anywhere.
“Honestly the Council is overwhelmed with the current situation. I am not thinking straight as I speak with you because my people have lost their sleep; they have been forced out of the community.”
He blamed the continuous bandits’ onslaught on communities on what he called the failure of the Kaduna State government to take concrete actions against them, stressing that “if Kaduna State is doing what Niger State is doing, the situation would have been addressed.
“These people usually come from Kaduna State to operate and return back. They move in their hundreds and yet the security agents don’t see them; even when the villagers alert them, no action is taken.
“Look at yesterday’s attack, for over three hours, there was no reinforcement from anywhere. They outnumbered the Joint Security Taskforce and succeeded in killing four of them, including some villagers.
“We cannot ascertain the number of people that were injured because some are still in the bush; they slept there,” he added.
Munya local government shares borders with Chikun local government in Kaduna State.