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•Unspecified number of cattle rustled
From John Adams, Minna
Barely one week after the massacre of 42 people in Kasuwan Deji in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, gunmen suspected to be bandits have invaded Damala community in the same local council and killed four people.
The latest incident occurred on Friday night around 11pm when the Kambari populated community was sleeping. According to community source, who spoke to this reporter on phone, Damala community is located a few kilometres from Woko (Wawa), a mining site being operated by yet to be identified individuals, in Borgu Local Government Area of the state.
The source disclosed that the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons and operating under the cover of darkness, invaded the village and targeted the victims before rustling their cattle.
The victims believed to be in control of herds of cattle in the area were said to be the main targets of the bandits who went away with hundreds of cattle after killing their victims.
“The bandits were in their numbers when they came. They went straight to their victims and killed them in their houses. They came purposely because they were the target.
“They moved the stolen cattle towards the Kainji Lake National Park Forest in Borgu Sector that night,” he narrated.
Kainji Lake National Park is an area known for difficult terrain and limited accessibility. The incident underscores the continued security challenges around mining corridors and rural settlements within Borgu Local Government Area.
Communities close to the National Park regions have remained under siege with bandits and terrorists exploiting the absence of activities in the park.
The Chairman of Borgu Local Government Area, Mallam Abdullahi Mohammed Nasiru, who confirmed the incident, said terrorists had laid siege to his council and called for help.
While calling for regular security patrols around communities being attacked, the Chairman stressed the need to secure the National Park, which had become an abode of criminals.
He suggested an enhanced collaboration between security agencies, park rangers, and local vigilante groups in order to enhance security in the area.
